Prevent Ice Dams from Forming on Your Roof

If you live in a snowy climate, you should be aware of the danger of ice dams and the damage they can do to your home. Ice dams form on the roof's edge and in the gutters of your home during freezing weather, and can cause interior leaking, damage to your home's ceiling and drywall, and even worse. They can wreak havoc on the foundation of your home and cause costly repairs. Learn how to prevent ice dams from forming to protect your house, and your wallet.

What causes an ice dam?

Before we continue, let's quickly discuss what causes an ice dam. Ice dams form when the heat from the attic melts the snow on the rooftop. As the snow melts, it turns into water. The water runs down beneath snow that has formed near the roof's edge and it refreezes. Because this area is not heated by the warmth from the attic, the water is kept cold by the snow on top of it, which blocks water from draining from the gutters. As a result, water cannot escape through the gutters and it backs up beneath the shingles of your home. This can cause a lot of damage to your roof, the ceiling beneath it, and to other areas of your home when it begins to melt and leak inside.

How to prevent ice dams

Once you realize how damaging ice dams can be, the next question is - How can they be prevented? It's certainly worth the time to make a few preparations to prevent ice dams from forming, and save yourself time and money in the long run. Here are a few things you can do to:

Clean the gutters - Before winter weather hits, clean out your gutters thoroughly to remove leaves and other debris.

Seal air leaks - Do what you can to seal any air leaks inside the attic. Warm air can travel through light fixtures and electrical boxes, pipes and ductwork, and even through light switches. Caulk around these areas to prevent warm air from reaching the ice above it.

Better insulate the attic - Even if you already have insulation in your attic, add more to the space. For best results, completely cover the top plates of your home's exterior walls with insulation.

Protect a finished attic - If your attic is finished out and heated, add an additional layer of rigid foam installation to the ceiling and cover it with wallboard.

Ventilate the attic - Provide enough ventilation in the attic so that the temperature on the underside of the roof and the outside air are the same temperature to prevent ice dams from forming.

Add a weatherproofing membrane - The best line of defense against ice dams is to add a weatherproofing membrane beneath the shingles. This is something to keep in mind before you reshingle the roof. This waterproof membrane seals the roof's surface to keep moisture away, thereby eliminating ice dams altogether.

In addition to all the suggestions above, another very simple way of preventing ice dams on the roof is to simply rake off fresh snow as soon as it falls. After all, if snow isn't sitting on the roof, ice can't form beneath it. For safety reasons, do not get on top of the roof to remove the snow. Use a ladder and follow these Ladder Safety Tips.

More from Jennifer Wagner:

Gutter Cleaning Guide for Fall

Is Your Home Ready for Cold Weather?

Save Time and Money with Preventative Home Maintenance

SOURCE:

Personal experience