Do gutters or gutter guards cause ice damming or icicles?

The short answer is no, however lets explain. Ice damming or icicles are caused by heat loss from the attic area causing the underside of the roof to get warm and melt snow. The melted snow runs down the roof until it gets to the overhangs or soffit areas. These areas are going to be cold since there is no heat loss below them, this caused the water to freeze at the edge of the roof causing ice dams or in the gutters causing icicles.