Frozen drownspout - Damage?

synaptech wrote: ↑ I've had mine rupture so it will be difficult to know until it thaws.

Tijuana wrote: ↑ What is the worst case though? Replace the downspout?

Tijuana wrote: ↑ What is the worst case though? Replace the downspout?

Katedontbreak wrote: ↑ Did you forget to disconnect the downspout from the rain barrel?

I would deal with that right away. It's supposed to warm up this week. Your concern is you dont want too much water from melting roof snow running down to your foundation.

You can buy white aluminum downpipe very cheaply at HD etc. and a matching pack of alumium screws.

Tijuana wrote: ↑ So should I chip away at it?

The rain barrel isn't connected, it's empty and I can remove it easily.

So just chip away at it and remove it?

My guess is the connector at the bottom (that leads it away from the house towards the fence) is broken/disconnected but what would cause the water/ice to build up that much?

Tijuana wrote: ↑ So should I chip away at it?

The rain barrel isn't connected, it's empty and I can remove it easily.

So just chip away at it and remove it?

My guess is the connector at the bottom (that leads it away from the house towards the fence) is broken/disconnected but what would cause the water/ice to build up that much?

porchemasi wrote: ↑ If the ice goes all the way up the downspout and begins to freeze the entire gutter the weight could cause it to fall down or cause damage to your roof with water not being moved.

p.s insurance does not cover any damage as they will say you failed to maintain the downspout i.e preventative install heat tape.
p.s.s i know first hand

Tijuana wrote: ↑ Not sure how long this has been going on for but I seemingly just noticed it today.

The rain barrel is empty and I was able to separate it. I'm guessing the downspout disconnected somewhere near the ground (it's not burred, just runs down, across 4 ft to the fence, and along the fence for about 8-10ft).

Am I looking at any damage? Should I do anything?

Tijuana wrote: ↑ I have upload a few more pictures.

The ~4ft area that runs away from the house is slightly raise, so I'm guessing water started pooling there and escaped from the joint area which cause all the ice to form?

To reiterate, the rain barrel is NOT connected. I removed it, along with some ice, to show more of the downspout. You can tell the piece I replaced, since it's a different colour, and has tape around where it was inserted into.

The downspout is completely solid/frozen only from where the taped area is going down. Above it I can feel it is hollow/empty.

Once it gets warmer, what is the best way to fix this? Since the 90 deg angle is basically on the ground, I'm guessing it should be raised up to allow the water to flown down? Would that pretty much solve my issue?

Katedontbreak wrote: ↑ The part that bends away from your house is too low. You need to cut the pipe above it more so that the water does not sit in there are freeze.

Tijuana wrote: ↑ I was able to do that with another peice of pipe i have. It's about 4 ft above the ground but I figure that's better than the current setup (for now hbtil the weather is better to redo the entire side)

Katedontbreak wrote: ↑ You could just use a hack saw and saw a bit of it off the bottom of the pipe that is already there.

Tijuana wrote: ↑ The ~4ft area that runs away from the house is slightly raise, so I'm guessing water started pooling there and escaped from the joint area which cause all the ice to form?

To reiterate, the rain barrel is NOT connected. I removed it, along with some ice, to show more of the downspout. You can tell the piece I replaced, since it's a different colour, and has tape around where it was inserted into.

The downspout is completely solid/frozen only from where the taped area is going down. Above it I can feel it is hollow/empty.

Once it gets warmer, what is the best way to fix this? Since the 90 deg angle is basically on the ground, I'm guessing it should be raised up to allow the water to flown down? Would that pretty much solve my issue?

Tijuana wrote: ↑ Not sure how long this has been going on for but I seemingly just noticed it today.

The rain barrel is empty and I was able to separate it. I'm guessing the downspout disconnected somewhere near the ground (it's not burred, just runs down, across 4 ft to the fence, and along the fence for about 8-10ft).

Am I looking at any damage? Should I do anything?