We live in Iowa. I noticed icicles hanging from the gutters. They have since melted away. We have aluminum screens over the gutters to keep leaves, etc. out. Are these making ice dams possible? We just reroofed the house and had that felt layer put on to avoid ice dams. What is causing the icicles and can anything be done if they are harmful to the house?? Thanks, Helen Ag.

Some icicles are totally normal. They happen. Ice dams is when water from melting ice lays on the roof. Water and ice shield placed around the edge prevents damage to the roof. It's more impervious than simple roof felt.

In severe cases there are ice melting systems that can be employed for the roof and gutter.

If there wasn't a problem before with roof freeze and gutter then the new roof is the cause here.
The new screens could attribute the cause if it slowly freezes up the small openings. Check that out the next time you see the ice hanging.



If the new roof drip edge was not put in the right location over/above the gutter then the gutter is partly being missed from runoff of the roof. Another catalyst here is the roofers may have leaned on the gutter and now its flow is to slow. So check both.
Either or the re roofing is the cause and effect of drip edge location or gutter is slightly bent and overflowing not getting to the downspout.

Run hose on roof to check the runoff to and in the gutter and that will check the gutter slope. Also check the downspout connection in the gutter to see if that hasn't gotten clogged form tree debris or re roofing material clogging up the down spout.
If you can check in attic eve for proper insulating to end of pitched roof and venting in that eve area is open to breath.

If its just a ruff winter heat tape can be installed in gutter and down spout for Ice storms. Even a perfect system can fail in extreme conditions

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