Ice Damming is what happens when water builds up behind a blockage of ice. If you live in a cold, snowy region, you already know about the damaging effects of ice dams. The gutters clog up with ice, then water runoff from the roof gets trapped by the dam and eventually backs up the roof, travels under the shingles, and leaks into the house. How can I remove an existing ice dam?
Properly removing an ice dam can be quite dangerous if you don’t know how.
In the past some people have suggested hiring a contractor to pull the gutters off your home so the whole ice dam process would be solved. This suggestion was well intended but wrong. Contractors that started removing gutters caused significant damage to roofing and guttering systems, then when the snow melted it dropped next to the homes foundation and caused the basements to flood.
Stopping ice dams is simple in principle: Just keep the entire roof the same temperature as the eaves. You do that by increasing ventilation, adding insulation, and sealing off every possible air leak that might warm the underside of the roof. While a permanent fix for ice dams usually requires increasing the insulation, sealing the roof with ice guard and proper ventilation to the roof. There are also heated gutter systems. Gutter guards and making sure the gutters are draining in the proper direction will help also.
Tips to prevent ice damming:
Make sure you have the right roofing system for your home
Make sure your roof is properly ventilated
Make sure your roof is properly sealed around chimneys and any openings
Make sure your home is insulated properly
Make sure you have the right gutter system for your roof and it is flowing properly
If your roof falls victim to ice damming our experts are here to assist you with all your needs. As always, consultations and estimates are free of charge. Get an expert involved before your roof is damaged or worse before someone gets hurt!
