Are icicles on gutters a sign that insulation is needed?

Question

The west facing side of the house has huge icicles growing along the gutters. My neighbor's house doesn't have them. Is this a signal that I might need more insulation in the attic?

Answer 1

No. Icecicles form on gutters because the gutters are full. It could be leaves blocking water flow in the gutters, or it could be just snow and ice. While low insulation levels may contribute to the problem, it could also be a lack of roof or soffit ventilation. After a snowfall, it acts as insulation on the roof, trapping heat escaping from the ceiling in your home. Insulation acts as a barrier to the escaping heat. The more insulation, the less heat loss. When the temperature in the attic gets above freezing, the snow starts to melt from the bottom up. As it trickles down between the roof and the snow, and reaches the outside wall line, the overhang has no heat from below, so the water cools and re- freezes, and forms ice dams. Soffit vents allow airflow to travel up the backside of the roof to the roof vents allowing heat to escape. This is what prevents ice dams because the temperature is more even under the roof. Insulation,ventilation, and gutter maintenance are all important parts of a system to prevent icecicle formation.

Answer 2

I would like to add to handerandy's comments...
ice dams are caused in part by the things he mentions, but the biggest culprit is attic bypasses. These are chaseways around your chimney, furnace flu, soil stack, dropped soffits, electrical wiring etc. that allow warm moist air to escape into your attic. Bypasses must be sealed to stop the air movement, before adding more insulation or extra ventilation.
see www.houleinsulation.com and click on bypass sealing and ice dams.

Answer 3

sounds like it to me

Answer 4

No