Accredited business
The gentlemen that were here were very courteous and made sure we were happy with the job before they left.
Paul K.Customer review
Converted cottages. Wooded lots. Gutters that drain.
Ice Dam Removal & Prevention in Portsmouth, RI
In Portsmouth, a gutter packed with frozen oak leaves can become the base of an ice dam, and the meltwater behind it ends up in your walls instead of the yard.
- BBB A+ accredited
- Family owned since 1985
- 4.9★ · 500+ Google reviews
- Fully insured
- Free estimates
- Reply same business day (Mon–Fri 8am–5pm)
- Free estimates by phone or from photos
- RI Contractor Reg. #GC-11847
At a glance
Mr. Gutter removes ice dams by hand on Portsmouth, RI homes, cutting channels through the ice so the trapped water can drain, and installs heat cables, gutter guards and clean gutters to help stop them. We are family owned since 1985 and work across the north end of Aquidneck Island. Estimates are free.
Last updated October 2026
- Service area
- All of Rhode Island & nearby MA
- In business since
- 1985, family owned
- Reviews
- 4.9★ · 500+ Google reviews
- Estimates
- Free, no obligation
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
We keep Portsmouth ice dams from backing meltwater into your walls and ceilings
Portsmouth has two kinds of ice dam trouble, depending on where you live. Along the water in Island Park and Common Fence Point, many homes began as small summer cottages and were later made into year-round houses. Low ceilings, shallow attics and insulation added piece by piece let heat reach the roof. In the wooded neighborhoods inland, the problem is shade and leaf-filled gutters that freeze solid before the first real snow even falls.
Weather on the north end of Aquidneck Island adds to it. Narragansett Bay on one side and the Sakonnet River on the other keep Portsmouth's winter temperatures bouncing around freezing. Snow falls, softens in the afternoon sun and freezes again overnight. Newer colonials, near Melville and elsewhere, have roofs with several valleys and intersecting sections, and every valley delivers meltwater to one small stretch of gutter. If that stretch is iced over, the water backs up.
We remove ice dams by hand. We carefully cut channels through the ice so the trapped water can drain off the roof and out of the gutters, protecting the shingles and the gutters as we work. Once the water is moving, we can look at why the dam formed and whether heat cables or a later fall cleaning would stop the next one. Call (401) 274-3030 or send a photo through the form, and we will respond the same business day.
Call (401) 274-3030Why ice dams form on Portsmouth homes
Converted cottages near the water
Island Park and Common Fence Point have many homes that started as summer cottages. Shallow attics and patchy insulation let heat from the living space warm the roof, which melts snow from below and sends water to the cold eaves.
Frozen leaves in wooded neighborhoods
Oaks in Portsmouth's wooded neighborhoods drop leaves late, and pines shed needles all year. A gutter still full of that debris in December holds water, freezes solid and gives meltwater nowhere to go but back up the roof.
Valleys on newer colonials
Larger colonials with several roof sections funnel meltwater down each valley to a short stretch of gutter. When that spot freezes, water piles up behind it, which makes valleys a common starting point for ice dams.
Freeze-thaw between bay and river
With water on both sides, Portsmouth winters swing above and below freezing again and again. Each thaw adds water at the eaves and each cold night freezes it, so ice builds up in layers over a mild week.
How we handle ice dams
Careful work by hand, then a plan so they don't come back.
Channels cut by hand
We carefully cut channels through the ice dam so the water trapped behind it can drain off the roof and out through the gutters, without tearing into the shingles.
Heat cables
Roof-edge and gutter heat cables keep a path open for meltwater in the spots that ice up every winter.
Learn more →Clear gutters before winter
Packed gutters hold water that freezes solid. A fall gutter cleaning, or gutter guards, lets meltwater drain.
Keeping ice dams off your Portsmouth roof next winter
Many Portsmouth ice dams start in the gutter, so fall is the time to act. A cleaning after the oaks finish dropping, with the downspouts cleaned by hand too, means the gutter is empty when snow arrives. On wooded lots, All Mesh Pro stainless mesh is fine enough to keep pine needles out, so the gutter stays clear between cleanings. Roof and gutter heat cables handle the valleys and eaves that ice up no matter what. In a converted cottage, ask an insulation contractor about attic insulation and air sealing, since that is outside what we do, and keep a roof rake handy for heavy snow.
More for Portsmouth homeowners: gutter installation, repair and cleaning in Portsmouth, and our guide to preventing ice dams.
Ice building up on your Portsmouth roof?
Call before the water finds its way inside. We answer the same business day: (401) 274-3030.
Get a Free EstimateSenior & military discounts · Ask about financing · Quotes from a photo
Our Clients' Reviews
4.9★ · 500+ Google reviews from homeowners across Rhode Island & nearby MA
One section of my gutter system had a hole in it. Mr. Gutter had great reviews, so I called them. They were very quick to respond, I sent a photo, and within minutes they gave me a reasonable quote to replace it. It was just replaced, they were very pleasant, would definitely use them again, highly recommend!
Maureen R.Customer review
Easy to schedule. They came out within a few days and did a great job. I can tell because the nor'easter hit us two days later!
Pamela B.Customer review
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you remove ice dams in Island Park and Common Fence Point?
Yes. We work throughout Portsmouth, including the shoreline neighborhoods. We remove ice dams by hand, cutting channels through the ice so trapped meltwater can drain, and we can recommend heat cables for eaves that ice up every year. To get started, call (401) 274-3030 or send a photo of the roof edge.
Should I clean my gutters before winter in Portsmouth?
Yes, and timing matters. Oaks keep dropping leaves into late November, so a cleaning in October can leave the gutter half full again by the first freeze. A late-fall cleaning, after most leaves are down, gives meltwater a clear path through the winter.
Why does ice keep forming in the same corner of my roof?
Usually because a valley or a short stretch of gutter collects more water than the rest of the roof, or because that spot stays shaded. It can also mean warm air is leaking into the attic there. Heat cables along that section keep a drainage path open, and an insulation contractor can check for the air leak.
What signs of an ice dam should I look for on my Portsmouth home?
Thick icicles along the gutters, a ridge of ice at the roof edge, water stains on ceilings or walls near the eaves, and gutters pulling away from the house. Wet attic insulation is another clue. If you see any of these, send us a photo through the form and we will tell you what we see.
Ice dam removal near Portsmouth
We remove ice dams and install heat cables across Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts.
Locations We Serve
From Providence and the Blackstone Valley to Newport, South County and over the line into nearby Massachusetts, our crews cover all of Rhode Island and the towns that border it.
Rhode Island
- Providence
- Warwick
- Cranston
- East Providence
- Pawtucket
- Woonsocket
- Lincoln
- Smithfield
- Cumberland
- Barrington
- East Greenwich
- Coventry
- Newport
- Narragansett
- All RI towns
Massachusetts
We serve all of Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts towns from Sutton and Walpole to Fall River (not beyond Fall River). See every town.
Request a Free Estimate Today
Tell us what's going on and a member of our team will get back to you to set up your free estimate. Prefer to talk? Call RI (401) 274-3030 or MA (508) 399-7600, or text us a photo at (401) 274-3030.
- Quote from a photo
- Reply same business day, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm
- Free estimates by phone or from photos
Loading the estimate form…
Form not loading? Open the estimate form in a new tab or call RI (401) 274-3030 · MA (508) 399-7600.