User:Ness Restoration/Preventing Ice Dams

Ice Dams

An Ice Dam is a wall of ice that forms at the edge of the roof, usually at the gutters or soffit. Water can leak into your home when the heat from your inside your home melts the snow on the roof. This water leakage can cause damage to walls, ceiling, insulation and other areas. To avoid water damage from Ice Dams, take these steps now to avoid trouble later.

1. Make sure your attic area has adequate insulation. Make sure your attic insulation does not cover your soffit air intake vents. Add soffit vents if your home currently does not have any. 2. Keep your attic well ventilated. The colder the attic, the less melting and refreezing on the roof. For good ventilation, make sure your attic area has sufficient air exhaust outlets (gable vents) and that the air flow is distributed throughout the attic space.

3. Keep the attic floor well insulated to minimize the amount of heat rising through the attic from within the house.

4. You can install an ice and water protector at the eaves of your home and in valley areas under the shingles. This will prevent water from entering your home unless the Ice Dam is higher than the protection provides.

5. As an extra precaution against water leaks caused by melting Ice Dams, install a water-repellent membrane under your roof covering.

What to do if you get an Ice Dam

Once an Ice Dam has occurred, to prevent the Ice Dam from melting and causing possible water damage in your home, there are basically two things you can do.

1) Remove the barrier of ice at the gutter line so the melting ice can drain

2) Remove the ice build-up on the roof area before it melts from underneath.

It is extremely important that you are aware of two potential dangers.Italic text

1) Working on a roof at any time is extremely dangerous. Working on a roof under winter conditions is even more dangerous.   Take precautions or call a professional.

2) If not done properly, you may cause damage to your roof or gutters while removing Ice Dams if you’re not careful or do not know what you’re doing.