What are Ice Dams?

Ice dams are thick bands of ice that form along the eaves of houses, causing millions of dollars in damages every year. Ice dams form when melting snow on the roof runs off and refreezes at the edge of the roof line. This can cause serious damage to your roof, gutters, insulation, paint, structure and even cause mold. When the snow melts on a warm roof it causes water to run between the snow and the warm roof, it then freezes and turns to ice when it gets past the exterior wall. As the snow continues to melt the water continues to flow down the roof.

Gutters do not cause ice dams like some people believe. However they do contribute to the ice and water build up in the edge of the roof. When gutters fill with ice they often break and rip away from the house. Bringing soffit, fascia and downspouts with them.

Roof leaks cause your insulation to become wet. The R-value of your insulation becomes weakened causing more heat to be lost. Water often leaks down the wall causing drywall and other areas to become water damaged. Repeated water damage leads to mold, structural damage and peeling of paint.

Solving the Problem!

The best way to stop and keep ice dams from forming are is to keep the roof as cold as possible. You can accomplish this by doing several key things. You can increase the thickness of your attic insulation, install a soffit and ridge vent system that will cause a continuous barrier. Cap the attic hatch which causes heat to escape. If you do experience an ice dam, do not try to solve the issue yourself. You will need to call a professional roofing company. Trying to remove the ice dam yourself can cause even more serious damage to your roof and is dangerous for the home owner.