The Danger of Ice Dams and How to Avoid Them – Better HouseKeeper

Learn the way to keep away from ice damns forming in your roof to cease long-term roof injury!

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Ice damming: in case you dwell in a temperate local weather and you’ve ever hung out researching or speaking about roof upkeep, this can be a time period you’ve most likely come throughout. However what’s ice damming, what does it do to your private home, and how are you going to preserve it from taking place?

This quick information will clarify how ice dams kind, and present a couple of fundamental pointers that may assist you to cease them from inflicting long-term injury to your roof. As with every different facet of roofing upkeep, responding proactively is one of the best ways to determine an ice dam so you possibly can rent roofers to repair it earlier than it will get worse and turns into a significant expense.

What are Ice Dams?

Within the easiest doable phrases, an ice dam is a layer of ice that kinds on prime of your eaves and retains melting snow from draining into the gutter. If you happen to’ve ever seen a home with huge icicles hanging from the gutters, you’ve seen an ice dam.

How do Ice Dams Type?

An ice dam kinds when heat air rises into your attic, heats the roof deck, and melts the snow alongside the ridge or peak. This meltwater then flows down the roof to the eaves, which overhang the principle dwelling space and have a tendency to be considerably colder. When the water reaches the eaves it freezes, making a dam that traps water on the roof.

Why are Ice Dams Harmful?

Over time, the ice sheet that kinds alongside the eaves creep up beneath the shingles, damaging your roof and inflicting moisture to construct up in your attic. This may lead to:

• Rotting beams
• Damaged shingles
• Mildew
• Gutter injury

The lovely icicles that kind alongside the gutter will also be a hazard to individuals and property.

How Can I Shield My Roof from Ice Dams?

Stopping ice dams is a multi-step course of. The very first thing it is best to do is ensure that all of your gutters and downspouts are cleared of particles so meltwater will be channeled away. Second, it is best to ensure your attic is correctly insulated and ventilated. Insulation will assist preserve heat air from escaping out of your dwelling house and overheating your attic, and air flow will be sure that any heat air that does attain the attic has someplace to go.

You probably have seen indicators of ice dams forming in your roof, one of the best factor to do is contact knowledgeable roofing firm in your space that may advise you as to what steps will be taken. It could be essential to reduce new vents, and when you’ve got an outdated roof it’s possible you’ll want to defend your eaves with an ice barrier (most new roofs can have ice and water defend laid down as a typical apply).

Being proactive about avoiding ice dams will assist you to keep away from winter water injury, and can prolong the life of your roof. It’s possible you’ll miss the icicles, however you’ll save loads of cash on roof repairs in the long term.