Winter Woes - Ice Dams

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By Heather M. Johnston, C.O.O & Realtor, The Spaniak Team

Ice dam?? What is that and why do you really care? Well, with this weather, you absolutely should! Ice dams can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage and if you don’t act quickly you will helplessly watch water streaming down your interior walls with no way of stopping it.

When a lot of snow accumulates on roofs, it can be the recipe for disaster. As the snow melts and freezes, it causes large blocks of ice and icicles at the end of the roof and in the gutters. Then, as the water under the snow starts to melt closest to the roof, it has no place to go.... other than under the snow and under the shingles of the roof, and down the interior walls of your home!

The thaw-then-refreeze cycle is the perfect recipe for creating ice dams, while many experts also point to warm air in home attics as being to blame. When an attic gets warm from hot air, it warms up underneath the roof, which then melts the ice and allows the water to collect up behind the ice dam.

What can you do to prevent ice dams from happening? While there are no 100% foolproof methods to prevent ice dams, there are some steps you can take to minimize potential risk. Making sure that your home’s attic stays as cold as possible is a good starting point. One very helpful way to go about this, according to many experts, is to seal any areas that are prone to air leaking, such as around chimneys, electrical wires, plumbing vents, etc. If you can close off your attic from additional sources of heat such as the furnace, that is even better still.

Ice dams that get too big can ultimately cause damage to the interior of a home, with leaks in ceilings and even potential for mold growth. It is very important that if you realize you have an ice dam, DO NOT attempt to remove it yourself. This often involves getting up on a slippery roof which is extremely dangerous. Do not try to melt the ice yourself. Call a professional IMMEDIATELY. Here is also a good informative article about how to remove ice dams. https://www.bobvila.com/articles/ice-dams/

As the saying goes: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Keeping your gutters clear of debris such as leaves can help to prevent the build up of ice and potential for ice dams. Having your attic as cold as possible, securing any air leaks, and not allowing large amounts of ice to accumulate around the perimeter of your roof all will help to reduce your risk of ice dam occurrence.

Unfortunately, we are a bit too far into the season to think about cleaning your gutters. But, if you see a large icicle forming on your roof or in your gutters and the temperature starts to go up rapidly, make sure you are watching your walls to see if any water is coming in. Hoping that your winter warms up… but not too fast so you can keep the ice damming at bay!

Stay warm & safe this winter! And if you’re thinking of selling your home, contact the Spaniak Team. www.SpaniakTeam.com, info@spaniakteam.com. (847)379-8813.

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