Ice dam prevention is something that should be on every homeowner’s winter to-do list. Ice dams can end up costing you thousands of dollars in damage and costly repairs. In this post we will discuss the problems associated with ice dams as well as prevention tips for homeowners.
What is an Ice Dam?
An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof; preventing melting snow from draining. As water backs up behind the dam it can leak through the roof shingles. This leakage can cause damage to your walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas.
Ice Dam Prevention Tips
To avoid these issues these are our recommended ice dam prevention tips:
1Remove snow from the roof. This eliminates the main ingredient needed for ice dams to form.
2Insulate your attic. A well insulated attic prevents the melt/freeze conditions where ice dams form.
3Ventilate your attic.Without adequate ventilation, heat will build up regardless of the amount of insulation.
4Check the exhausts. Make sure all ducts from bathrooms, kitchens or other living areas exhaust to the outside, not the attic.
5Add extra insulation in your attic floor to help keep the warm air inside your home and out of the attic.
6Insulate attic access doors with a cover, or seal an existing hatch with weatherstripping.
7In the event that an ice dam does form keep the attic well ventilated — the colder the attic, the less melting and refreezing on your roof.
8Look for signs of inadequate ventilation: rust spots, rusty nails or a mildew smell are all signals that moisture has formed on the inside of your roof.
In conclusion ice dams can cause big damages for a homeowner, but they are preventable. We hope these tips are able to help you as a homeowner prevent ice dams, and keep your roof safe this winter season!
