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Ice dams occur after a heavy snowfall is followed by very cold weather.
As heat escapes from your house through the attic, snow on the roof starts
to melt and trickles down the eaves. An icy crust then forms, keeping
the wind from blowing snow off the roof. This process continues until
a dam of ice has formed. The ice then expands and backs up closer to the
warm roofing. It melts again and finds its way under the roof shingles,
ultimately causing damage to the interior of your home as well as the
roof.
You can help prevent roof and interior damage to your home by doing the following:
- Use a roof rake (a tool specially designed for removing snow from
roofs) to remove as much snow as possible from your roof. If the
problem persists, hire a professional to shovel your roof.
- Inspect and clean your gutters regularly.
- Insulate the attic floor to help keep the attic roof cold. Your goal
should be to keep it as cold on the underside of your roof as it is
outside.
- Be sure vents are not blocked, and cold air is flowing along the underside
of your roof.
Remember, a cold attic does not melt snow as
quickly as a warm one.
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How can ice dams be prevented?