A cozy, warm home during the chilly winter months sounds comforting, but when the heat from a home rises and escapes, ice dams can form and cause damage to a home’s roof, attic and walls. Ice dams form when escaping heat partially melts a layer of snow on the roof, then water runs under the snow layer on the roof edge. At the lower edge of the roof, some of the water refreezes under the snow and forms a layer of ice. As these layers build, an ice dam can form.
To help prevent ice dams and the resulting damage, follow these helpful tips:
>Keep all drains, gutters and downspouts free of debris and vegetation that may restrict proper flow. >Remove or relocate heat sources that are installed in open attic areas directly under the roof.
>Insulate light fixtures in the ceiling below an unheated attic space.
>If you have penetrations into the attic, such as vents, seal and insulate them so that daylight cannot be seen and airflow is minimal.
>Install heating cables on eaves, gutters and downspouts or around roof drains on flat roofs. This will not remove an existing ice dam, but will create effective channels that allow water to drain off safely.
