An ice dam is an accumulation of ice that forms on the edge of a roof during the freeze thaw cycle of winter conditions. This blockage of ice prevents melting snow from draining off of the roof. Ice dams can grow heavy enough to tear down gutters. Worse still, shingles can loosen from melted ice traveling underneath them causing water to leak or pour into a home resulting in various levels of damage.
It is important to properly dry any water damage that occurs as a result of ice daming as quickly as possible. Proactively handling the water loss will reduce the damage to your home and will eliminate wood rot and harmful mold infestations. Exposure to mold can have detrimental effects on our health including serious respiratory illnesses and more.
Helpful Tips To Prevent Ice Dams:
- Remove accumulated snow from the roof and gutters with a long handled broom or ice-rake
- Insulate your attic floor, particularly edges and corners to avoid heat seepage
- Insulate living spaces to prevent heat from escaping through the ceiling
- Keep the soffit vents and ridge vents unobstructed and open so that cool air can travel freely on both the inside and outside surfaces of the roof
- Install a water proof membrane underneath the roof
