What are Ice Dams?
For an ice dam to form, there needs to be the following: snow, heat to melt the snow, and cold to refreeze the melted snow. As snow on the upper part of a roof melts, water runs down the roof slope under the blanket of snow that hasn’t yet melted. The water then refreezes into a band of ice on the edge of the roof. Any further snow that melts and runs down the roof then pools against the
ice dam and eventually leaks into the building or home through the roof.
The snow at the peak of the roof often easily melts because it is directly above the living space, and when a home is poorly insulated, the heat is constantly leaking out. Since roof overhangs are not warming up from any indoor heat loss, this allows the melted snow to refreeze and create the dam. Look at an
ice dam diagram to better understand the process of ice dam formation.
What Damage can come from Ice Dams?
The water leakage from ice dams can cause water-stained ceilings, dislodged roof shingles, sagging ice-filled gutters, peeling paint, and damaged plaster. Calling professionals is the best idea if you need
damage restoration after an ice dam causes water leakage in your home.
Ice dam damage can be extremely costly to resolve, and prevention from the beginning is in your best interest.
What is best for Ice Dam Prevention?
Prevention is the key to avoiding a disaster. Adding insulation on the attic floor helps to keep the heat where it belongs – in your home. It’s important to keep your roof cold to deter the snow melting and getting trapped. Make sure all exhaust from kitchen, bathroom, and dryer vents are leading outdoors through either the roof or walls.
Invest in a roof rake to clear the snow from your roof after a storm, especially if there is more than a foot of snow on your roof. Consider installing heated gutter guards that block the snow from filling up your gutters and allow the snow to slide off the roof.
What is the best method of Ice Dam Removal?
To begin, do not chip at the ice with a screwdriver or ice pick. It’s very dangerous to be on the roof or on the ladder while chipping at the ice dam. You could also damage the roof in your efforts to break the ice apart. If an ice dam is forming, calcium chloride or similar products are sold in tablet form that you can set on the dam to begin melting it. The sooner you place these after you notice a dam forming, the better. If the ice is too thick, it’s going to take a long time to melt through and actually break the dam apart.
When in need, call the professionals at
Centennial Construction & Remodeling Services, Inc. You won’t have to risk any danger or injury by climbing on a ladder, and you won’t have to spend your time out in the cold trying to figure out the best solution. This will also provide a guarantee that the ice dam will be properly removed without any damage to your home. We serve Carmel, Westfield, Noblesville, Fishers, Zionsville, and the surrounding northside Indianapolis areas.
Contact us at
317-848-7634 when you’re in need of
water damage restoration due to an
ice dam on your roof.