Prevent Damage From Ice Dams

5/24/2022 (Permalink)

Follow our Tips and Prevent Damage From Ice Dams in your Property.

When temperatures drop below freezing, your home may be vulnerable to ice dam formations. These chunks of ice form at the edge of your roof and sometimes in the rain gutter, preventing the water from melting snow from draining away from your home. The blocked water then has the potential for causing a lot of property damage:

• Wet insulation
• Stains on ceilings and walls
• Mold growth
• Paint damage on the exterior of the home
• Structural damage Inefficient heating and cooling

This damage may travel up your roof as heat from your home continues to melt the snow closest to the surface. The newly warmed water collects near the ice block and adds to the bulk of the dam. The key to preventing this type of damage is preparing your Ogden, UT, home before the first winter storm hits.

Several Ways to Prevent an Ice Dam

One of the most effective methods of ice dam prevention is making sure your roof remains cold. Remember that it's the heat from your home escaping through the roof that causes the lowest part of the snow to melt. Reduce heat loss by filling gaps around light fixtures, filling in holes in the walls and ceilings, wrapping plumbing pipes, and repairing damage to chimneys, vents in the roof, and any leaks in the ceiling and roof.

In addition to preventing dams, you'll also save money on your monthly heating and cooling bills by reducing your energy usage.

Increase the efficiency of those tasks by upgrading the insulation in your attic. You should have between 12 and 14 inches of insulation, but some older homes have eight inches or less. While your focus is on the attic, consider adding ventilation to draw in cool air from outside and expel warm air. Reach out to roofing professionals or technicians with plenty of property damage cleanup and restoration experience.

Invest in an Underlayment or Heat Cable

Many areas of the country require an ice-and-water barrier as an underlayment. If your roof needs to be replaced or upgraded, adding this underlayment is an excellent investment against damage from water and other hazards. You could also install heat cables around the roof to melt snow where dams are likely to form. Make sure that gutters are free of debris, so there is a clear path for water to drain.

Clear Snow From the Roof

If you have a flat roof and a heavy load of snow, remove some of that weight from your roof. Heavy snow presents many risks in addition to an ice dam. It is dangerous to climb onto your roof and the danger increases as the shingles become slick with water, snow, and ice, so check your local home improvement store for an aluminum snow rake with an extendable pole. Start along the edges of the roof and focus on the overhangs. You don't need to clear the entire roof; dams are most likely to form on the edges and overhangs.

Don't panic if you find an ice dam on the roof of your home in Ogden, UT, you can hire professionals to safely remove the dam. Your quick response is the second-best way to prevent serious property damage. For the very best results, use these preventative steps.