"ice Dams Can Easily Damage Homes, Use These Ice Dam Prevention Measures To Prevent Ice Damming On Y

Ice dam prevention is becoming more of a concern this year as thousands of homeowners

in Maryland had problems with ice damming on their homes last year.

If your home has had a problem with ice dams in the past and you were unable to put any ice dam prevention methods in place you may have waited too long. As we enter into another winter season pay close attention to your home and if you notice long icicles hanging from your gutters this winter ice damming is an immediate concern. Icicles are usually one of the first warning signs of possible ice dams on your roof and if you don't act quickly you may end up with very significant damages to your home from ice dams.

This article will explain what ice dams are, how they form and the best methods for removing ice dams safely.

What is an ice dam?

An ice dam is a wall of ice that forms at the edge of the roof, usually at the gutters or soffit. When it forms the water then backs up behind the ice dam and creates a pool of water. As the snow continues to melt from further up the roof it builds up behind the ice dam. This pool of water then leaks into your home and causes damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas.

What causes ice dams

Ice dams are usually caused by heavy snowfall and improper ventilation in the attic. This causes warmer areas in your attic then the snow begins to melt, even when the outside temperature is well below freezing. When the accumulated snow on your roof starts melting it runs down your roof underneath the snow until it reaches a "colder" section like the soffit's, valleys or in your gutters, then it begins to freeze again, this process of thawing and refreezing is what causes an ice dam to build.

Cleaning the gutters on your home can help prevent ice dams from occurring as quickly but they can still occur if the conditions are right. The gutters will be just as cold as it is outside and in some cases, full of frozen debris. So even if you don't have a soffit for the water to refreeze in, the melted water will most likely refreeze when flowing into the gutters.

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 members of the media 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.

WARNING!

Performing ice dam removal is risking severe personal injury and damage to the roof if not done properly. Never walk on a snow covered roof and make sure if your using a ladder you follow the proper safety procedures. I highly suggest contacting professionals with the proper equipment and roofing experience to carry out this job.

Click here: Before you hire a company to remove ice damming on your home, get this free guide on how to hire a qualified ice dam removal company!

How can I prevent ice damming in the future?

Properly ventilating and insulating the attic is usually the best way to prevent ice dams. The usual recommendation for proper ventilation is 1 square foot of vent for every 150 feet of attic floor area but each climate region may have it's own recommendations so I would suggest contacting a licensed local insulation company near you. If you have small louvered vents at either end of the attic known as gable vents you can either replace them with larger vents, or install an electric vent fan over the inside of them. These special fans usually work on a thermostat and will pull outside air into the attic to keep the temperature inside consistent.

by: Henry Bockman

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