During New England winters, we spend a lot of time thinking about ice in our pipes or on our sidewalks, but have you taken precautions to prevent ice on your roof?
Ice Dams: What Are They?
As ice accumulates during the winter, it can freeze on the edge of your roof and block snow and rain from draining down your gutters. This dam of ice then causes snow to pile up behind it, and the weight can cause roof damage. Additionally, as the snow melts, the trapped water may end up leaking through your ceiling.
What Causes an Ice Dam?
Uneven roof temperatures are the main cause of ice dams: If part of your roof is below freezing and part is above freezing, the snow on the warmer part of the roof will flow to the cooler part of the roof and freeze.
How Can I Prevent Uneven Roof Heating?
The easiest solution is to keep snow off your roof. It’s hard for ice dams to form without snow accumulation. You can purchase snow rakes or hire professionals to remove the build-up.
Another more long-term solution, however, is adding proper insulation in your attic to keep the warm air from your home away from the roof. You’ll want to plug up any areas where warm air from your home can get into the attic, and also add insulation in the attic to keep any warm air away from the roof.
You can also add additional vents to your attic to help cold air blow in and warm air exit.
What if I Already Have an Ice Dam?
If there’s no leakage yet, simply melting the dam is your goal. You can hire professionals to do this with a steamer.
The Roof Is Leaking! Now What?
If damage has already occurred from an ice dam, don’t fret: Sabel Adjusters and our team of experts can help you with everything from filing a claim to restoring your home to like-new condition. Give us a call today.
