What is an Ice Dam and How can they be Prevented

WHAT ARE ICE DAMS AND HOW CAN THEY BE PREVENTED?

With winter comes snow and ice: it’s a fact of life we have to deal with. This not only means more time spent outdoors shoveling snow and clearing off cars after a storm, but also more time spent maintaining our homes to ensure they’re safe. Preventing ice dams from forming is a major part of winter maintenance on your roof, and one that you simply can’t neglect. Let’s explore how to prevent ice dams and what you can do to ensure they don’t harm your property.

WHAT IS AN ICE DAM?

First off, what is an ice dam? It’s a ridge of ice that accumulates at the edge of your roof or inside the gutters during really cold weather.  When outside temperatures are below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period of time, heat from inside the home can rise and warm the top of the roof.  This prevents melting snow from running off the roof properly. It gets stuck at the ice dam, backing up slowly until that water starts to leak and damage your walls and ceilings. This can quickly become a problem for homeowners, as leaks spring up to let in not only water but cold air also. That water can leak into your insulation as well, causing even more problems for your home’s heating efficiency. The ice dams can form particularly after a snow storm. When combined with the warm air from your attic, the snow naturally melts, then refreezes once it hits the roof’s edge, where it’s colder, says the Family Handyman. (http://www.familyhandyman.com/roof/prevent-ice-dams/view-all#ixzz3Krh4zooR)

HOW TO PREVENT ICE DAMS

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to prevent ice dams from forming in the first place. In order to efficiently stop ice dams, you should keep the roof the same temperature as the eaves underneath, explains This Old House. (http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1131346,00.html ) You can achieve that by boosting your attic’s ventilation, adding some more insulation to the attic and sealing up any air leaks you may find. Those warm air leaks could be heating up the underside of your roof, encouraging melting and pooling of water. By keeping your roof as cold as possible, you will discourage the melting of water, which leads to major problems for your home. Since you’re losing one-third of your heat through the attic (just like you lose most of your internal heat through your head), you need to be diligent about blocking up leaks around light fixtures, telephone jacks, doors, windows, drywall gaps, pipes, access hatches, and chimneys. Use extra insulation where needed and caulk any cracks you find. Another wise idea is to add ventilation in the form of additional roof and soffit vents. You essentially want to suck in cold air from the outdoors and flush out that warm air in your attic to cool off your roof. Finally, you can install some heat tape, also known as heat cables, along the edge of your roof, which warms it up so ice doesn't even have a chance to form.

Do your part to prevent ice dams and you will experience a leak-free winter this season with your loved ones.