Winter brings with it a set of challenges for homeowners; most of these concerns revolve around the integrity of the roof. Probably among the most common and destructive roof conditions that occur during the colder times relates to ice dam formation. If left inadequately addressed, these ice dams can go a long way in causing roofs to leak, water to possibly damage the area, or even structural issues. Thankfully, with proper prevention methods, you will be able to safeguard your home against such wintertime dangers. In this article, we discuss how ice dams form, the risks they create, and what you can do to avoid them.
What are Ice Dams?
An ice dam is a thick ridge of ice which forms along the edge of the roof in areas where the snow tends to pile up. Normally, when snow falls on the roof, it melts from the heat in the attic, and the resulting water moves down to the roof’s edge. This reaches the cold eaves and re-freezes, forming some kind of barrier. The accumulation of the ice tends to trap the water behind it, which works its way into the roof and leaks, possibly causing extensive damage in the roof, walls, and insulation.
The primary areas where ice dams can be expected are in cold climates, although they can occur anywhere that outside temperature falls below freezing accompanied by heavy snowfall. Prevention of ice dams principally concerns the elimination of the root causes, normally brought about by heat loss in the attic, poor ventilation, and inadequate insulation.
How Ice Dams Cause Roof Leaks
Among these, one of the primary means is that if there is water accumulation behind the dam, then dams themselves allow the seepage into the roof deck; once inside it, the water will have leaked through to the ceiling, showing water stains, mold, and other structural damages. In addition, the immense weight can buckle or break the shingles, thereby increasing their chances of leakage.
The undeterred ice dams can also vandalize the gutters, soffits, and fascia boards, which may most likely result in costly repairs, too. The more time the ice dam exists, the higher is the risk for extensive damage.
How to Prevent Ice Dams and Roof Leaks
Improve Attic Insulation
Your best ice dam prevention can come through the improvement of attic insulation. Proper insulation ensures a prevention of warm air leaks through the attic and maintains equal uniform temperatures on the roof. Because the roof will not have hot air, snow will not thaw or freeze at the lower parts of the roof where your eaves are located. Ice will consequently never start forming dams.
How to: Insulate or upgrade the attic insulation. Ensure the ceiling is appropriately sealed with insulation material that could be fiberglass batt or spray foam; these are the best to block heat from leaking out of your house. Give more concentration around the area of the vents, pipes, and chimneys because this place is among the primary site for air leaks. Also, you can give a call to an expert plumbing company of your area.
Adequate Ventilation
Apart from insulation, adequate attic ventilation also plays a major role in preventing ice dams. In this case, ventilation serves to keep the roof cold by maintaining a temperature that assures the snow melts uniformly across the top and does not freeze at the edges. The lack of proper ventilation causes the attic to be warmer compared to the outside temperature. This adds to the melting and refreezing process.
What to do: Install or upgrade ridge vents, soffit vents, or gable vents for appropriate ventilation. Such vents can allow cold air entry and warm air to escape. This keeps the roof at one uniform temperature and prevents ice formation.
Seal Air Leaks
Air leaks into the attic can cause significant heat loss and increase the risk of ice dams. Sources of air leaks into the attic typically include but are not limited to: gaps around pipes, vents, chimneys, and electrical fixtures. Amazingly, even the smallest leaks may allow enough warm air to escape to warm the roof enough to potentially cause an ice dam to form.
How to do it: Caulk and spray foam are ideal to seal the gaps and cracks around the pipes, vents, and other openings. Visible holes or spaces in the attic should be located and those gaps sealed as far as possible to avoid heat loss.
Remove Snow from the Roof
Another precaution would be the removal of snow off the roof as soon as possible after the fall of snow. This may be impracticable for every home, but particularly with steep or high roofs, it cuts down on accumulated snow which can eventually work into the house and make ice dams.
What to do: Use a roof rake with a long handle to carefully remove snow from the roof, starting from the edges and working your way up. Be cautious not to damage the shingles or gutters during this process. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, hire a professional to clear the roof for you.
Install Heat Cables
C The Heat Cables: These are an utmost popular solution to ice dam problems. They are mounted on the edges of roofs and in the gutters, where they melt off snow and ice before this starts to build into a blockage. The constant heat from the cables normalizes temperature on the roof, making it even, hence stopping the building of ice at every point.
What to do: Once installed by a professional, heat cables can be set along the roof edge and in the gutters. These must be installed before the first snowfall so that when they are needed, they will be working.
Clean Gutters and Downspouts
Clogged gutters and downspouts contribute to the formation of ice dams simply by failing to properly drain the water. If the gutters are clogged with debris, the water cannot flow freely off the roof; it backs up, freezes, and then forms an ice dam.
How to do it: Clean gutters and downspouts, particularly before winter. Make sure the gutters are free-flowing and the downspouts carry water away from the foundation so that water will not collect around the house.
Roof Care
The second precautionary measure against ice dams is regular roof maintenance. The missing and damaged shingles allowing the seepage of water on the underside of the roofs should be inspected. Moreover, there should not be any debris on the roofs because this trap moisture that develops to ice dams.
What to do: Let the professional take a look at your roof prior to winter. Replace the spoiled shingles, and get the roof in good shape to deal with the weather during winter.
Conclusion
Ice dams and roof leaks are one of the usual problems provided by winter, which really needs serious attention or may lead to enormous destruction of your home. By adding insulation to the attic, assuring adequate ventilation, stopping air leaks, and having routine maintenance for your roof, you will minimize the occurrence of ice dams, plus the costly repairs related to them.
