Ice Dams and Water DamageSure it’s warm outside right now, but while it’s warm and you can handle having people working in your home is the time to make sure your attic is insulated properly.  One good ice-storm or rainfall on a frozen roof is all it takes to start up an ice dam.  You may be thinking that a little ice on your roof it nothing, especially since you got your roof repaired after this year’s hail storms, but the sad truth is that an ice dam can undo all of your work and leave you with water damage throughout your home.

What is an Ice Dam?

Typically present in colder climates, ice dams form when ice or snow melts on a roof and freezes over the awning.  As water continues to melt on the roof, it flows down toward the buildup of ice, refreezing into a large dam that traps water between the new ice wall and your warm roof.  This buildup of water will seek a new way down, often working its way past your shingles and into your attic.

Once that water has infiltrated into your attic, it will seep into insulation and drip between your walls.  The slow trickle from an otherwise non-obvious leak can be as devastating to your walls, ceiling, and attic as any harsh rainstorm.  When the cold season does finally hit, keep an eye on your roof.  If you see large melted spots on your roof with frozen edges along the awnings of your roof, those are ice dams and should be carefully removed.

How do you Prevent an Ice Dam?

Of course, preventing the formation of an ice dam is the best way to protect your home from costly water damage.  The main source of ice dams comes from improper attic insulation.  You don’t want to waste energy keeping your attic warm during the winter anyway, but a hot attic will melt any snow or ice off your roof before it’s ready.

To prevent a hot attic, check to make sure that the floor of your attic is well insulated.  Look at the insulation fill or batts (the fluffy fiberglass or large rolled mats) between the rafters on the floor of your attic.  If they’re compacted and you can see more than a couple of inches of rafter exposed, you need additional insulation.  Alternatively, if you’d prefer a climate-controlled attic, make sure that the ceiling is sprayed with insulation as well.  This will create a buffer zone between the cold outdoors during the winter, and the heat during the summer.

Responding to Water Damage

In many cases, soaked insulation needs to be replaced.  Very rarely can it simply be dried out.  Don’t wait either.  The warm temperature in your home mixed with soaked insulation is a recipe for mold to spread quickly throughout your walls.  So take the time to before it becomes a problem to inspect your roof, walls, and insulation.  Remember, prevention is key!


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