ICE DAMS
Posted on Mon, Jan 16, 2012
With more daylight in store you may be admiring the beautiful blanket of snow on your roof. A couple of questions may come to mind:
- Will such a natural beauty cause damage to our home? Possibly.
- Will this blanket of snow help in keep our home more insulated? Yes, but not in a good way and here's why.
By having additional snow on your roof will insulate but it is a type of insulation that you do not want as the attic area was designed to keep cool. With this blanket of snow it could create problems such as an "Ice Dam".
What is an Ice Dam? It is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of the roof. This ridge can continue growing over time without being detected.
How does an Ice Dam form? When temperatures in your attic gets "above" the freezing mark, the snow begins to melt trickling down your shingles, again being undetected for a matter of time. During this melting phase, water will run down your roof but will begin to freeze again once it reaches the cooler area of your eaves. Repeating this process will allow the ice to build up and cause damage.
What damage could an Ice Dam do?
- You may experience leaking in your home in areas such as a ceiling fixture, above windows or any areas that the vapor barrier has been cut in the construction or remodel process allows warmer air to escape.
- The ice dam eventually will back its way up the roof, traveling under the shingles making its way to the plywood creating other leaks and problems.
What ways can we identify a possible Ice Dam problem?
- Icicles
- Unexplained areas on your roof that are more clear of snow than others.
What ways can we fix this problem?
- Carefully remove the snow from your roof either by using a "roof rake" and/or a push broom working upwards from the lower area of the dam.
- Be careful not to chop or otherwise damage the roof itself. If the ice is too thick, just remove the snow.
A word of caution: Working on a roof during the winter months is risking damage to the roof and your house. Contacting a professional may be beneficial to assure the job is done correctly thus protecting your home and its value.
