Are large icicles an indication of clogged gutters?

Question

We have a detached garage with a mother-in-law suite in it. It is heated. The gutter have huge icicles hanging from them, but our house does not. There are not any trees above that would shed leaves. Is this an indication of clogged gutters or storm drain?
We will have to wait till spring to clean them anyway.

Answer 1

Probably more of an indication of a lot of heat loss through the roof. It sounds like your house is insulated better than the garage. And yes, the gutters are probably frozen. That won't hurt anything though.

Answer 2

The gutter is full of ice and meltwater from the roof is overflowing and then re-freezing as these icicles. It could become a problem if the ice backs up under the shingles and causes a roof leak.
You may have a debris-clogged gutter or need better insulation in the garage. A heating element installed in the gutter will keep ice from clogging it up.

Answer 3

The sun melts the snow on the roof on the East side of my house, no matter what. I could put heat tape in the gutter but, by the time winter is over, the ice has generally melted. They're not clogged except with more ice and snow. Your not going to stop that except with a heat tape for that use.

Answer 4

the snow on the roof and the snow in the gutters melt a little and then it freezes again before it can run off, so it melts and then the icicles form.
have the mother in law get her a ss up there and knock the icicles down.

Answer 5

No......that's an indication that you are losing too much heat through the roof. Need better insulation!

Answer 6

It means there is not enough insulation in the attic, causing the snow to melt and run off.