Community Corner
Snow Happens. Make Sure Your Gutters Can Handle the Meltdown
Whether you need a cleaning before the freeze, a gutter repair, or help with snow and ice buildup, Udderly Gutters is here to help.
This is a paid post contributed by a Patch Community Partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own, and the information presented has not been verified by Patch.
New England homeowners know the routine. One day you’re admiring the fall foliage, and the next you’re digging out your snow shovel and wondering whether moving somewhere warmer would really be that unreasonable.
Winter here brings more than snow. It brings melting snow, rain, freezing nights, and surprise warm afternoons that turn everything into a slushy mess. Through it all, the water coming off your roof needs somewhere to go.
At Udderly Gutters, helping it get there is our business. And while our name might make you smile, protecting your home is something we take seriously.
A Family Business With a Little Moo Behind It
Udderly Gutters is owned by Chester and Ashley Aho. You may remember us as Aho Seamless Gutters. Our family business also grew through the acquisition of Damien Petry Gutter Solutions in 2023, bringing more experience and customer relationships into the fold.
As we grew, we wanted a name that brought our brands together, was easy to remember, and didn’t require a pronunciation lesson.
“Udderly” fit perfectly. Chester grew up on a 500 cow dairy farm, so the cow connection comes honestly. You could say he traded moving milk for moving rainwater.
Today, we serve homeowners across New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and eastern Vermont, with locations in Jaffrey, Grantham, and Salem, New Hampshire. Our services include seamless gutter installation, repairs, cleaning, gutter protection, and winter services.
Our mission is simple: provide clients with an exceptional experience. Our HEART values Honest, Efficient, Accountable, Responsive, and Teachable guide how we communicate, work, and solve problems.
The cow gets your attention. Taking care of you and your home is what matters afterward.
The Snow Is Only Half the Story
A roof covered in snow can look like a postcard. The drainage challenge often starts when that snow begins to melt.
A warmer afternoon, sunshine, or rain falling on existing snow can send water running toward your roof’s edges. When gutters and downspouts are clear and functioning, they help collect that runoff and direct it away from your home.
When they’re blocked, damaged, or draining into the wrong place, water can spill over beside your foundation, soak areas near the house, or cross walkways and steps. Once temperatures drop again, those wet surfaces can freeze.
That’s how an afternoon puddle can become tomorrow morning’s unexpected skating rink. Unfortunately, your front steps don’t come with a Zamboni.
Repeated thawing and freezing make drainage especially important in New England. Your system needs to handle water whenever conditions allow it to flow, even in the middle of winter.
Don’t Freeze Your Fall Leaves Until Spring
Leaves, pine needles, and twigs left in gutters can block the path that melting snow needs to take. Trapped water can freeze, leaving even less room for runoff during the next thaw.
Preparing for winter means checking the entire drainage route. Downspouts need to be open, connections secure, and discharge locations positioned to carry water away from the home.
At Udderly Gutters, we address these concerns through cleaning, repairs, and gutter installation. Gutter protection can also help reduce debris buildup, depending on the home and surrounding trees. It still needs appropriate maintenance and isn’t a guarantee against winter ice.
Ice Dams: When Your Roof Builds the Wrong Kind of Barrier
Ice dams develop when snow melts on a warmer part of the roof and refreezes near the colder edge. As that ice builds, it can hold water behind it, potentially allowing water to work beneath the roofing.
Gutters alone cannot prevent ice dams. Heat escaping through air leaks or inadequate insulation can contribute to the problem. Air sealing, insulation, and appropriate ventilation are important parts of addressing recurring issues.
We love gutters, but we won’t tell you they can fix your attic. Even our cows have limits.
How Udderly Helps When Winter Gets Stubborn
When ice dams develop, Udderly Gutters uses a professional ice dam steamer to melt away the buildup and help restore a path for trapped water to drain. This purpose-built equipment allows us to remove ice without open flames or hammering and chopping that can damage shingles and gutters.
A torch belongs nowhere near your roof. Using an open flame to melt ice can turn a drainage problem into a house fire, an entirely different kind of meltdown. Professional steaming provides a controlled approach to ice removal while helping protect your roofing and gutter system.
Removing the ice addresses the immediate buildup. Recurring ice dams may also require an evaluation of the insulation, air sealing, and ventilation contributing to the problem.
We also offer roof raking to remove accessible snow buildup and help reduce the amount available to melt and refreeze. Our team can assess gutter damage and drainage concerns, too, helping homeowners understand what needs attention beyond the immediate ice problem.
Get Ahead of the Meltdown
Whether you need a cleaning before the freeze, a gutter repair, or help with snow and ice buildup, Udderly Gutters is here to help.
Whether you need a cleaning before the freeze, a gutter repair, or help with snow and ice buildup, Udderly Gutters is here to help.
Contact our team to schedule service or discuss what’s happening at your home. A little attention now can help keep winter water moving in the right direction.
Because the only thing that should be having a meltdown this winter is the snow.
Udderly Gutters: sMOOth and in the groove.
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