Ice Dam- What it is & Why it Happens

An ice dam is the last thing you want to worry about this winter. Since having the heat on is about to become a regular occurrence, it is a good idea to make sure the heat stays inside your home and doesn’t escape through the roof. Whether or not you are one that likes snow, no one wants to see an ice dam on their roof.

What is an Ice Dam?

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that occurs at the edge of a sloped roof. It stops the melting snow from draining properly and causes a water build up behind the dam. This can damage the walls, ceilings, insulation and even lead to mold and mildew buildup. The cause is the different temperatures on different areas of the roof. The ice dam then forms when the temperature at the bottom of the roof is below freezing, but the middle of the roof is above freezing, thus causing the snow to melt then refreeze. Over time the buildup with grow larger and the water behind the ice dam will begin to seep into the building to cause more damage. There is also the risk of damage from the excess weight that can create issues down the road if not treated in time.

How to Prevent Ice Dams

The key to preventing ice dams on your roof is keeping the attic air cool so that the melting of snow will only occur when the outside air temperature climbs above freezing. Check your attic insulation levels to see if you have an adequate amount or if there are gaps in coverage. If you’re not sure how much you need, ask a professional or the Energy Star website is a good place to check. Also, look around the house to find areas to fix where heat may be escaping to the attic. This can occur around light fixtures, plumbing, attic access, and cracks in drywall. The last line of defense for ice dams is proper ventilation. Good ventilation will allow heat to escape the attic before it warms the roof deck. Roof vents and soffit vents will work together to keep attic air flowing. Check to make sure you have enough vents and those you do have are not blocked.

If you currently have ice dams on your roof, you can try to remove them with a roof rake or salt treatments. These, of course, are temporary measures and if you’re not careful can actually cause more damage. If you think you have any damage caused by an ice dam or are worried about them forming, give Royalty a call at 800-303-8392. We will be able to fix any roof damage and make sure your roof is equipped with the proper ventilation.