Ice Dams can Damage Your Home from the Inside Out

Many of the nation’s Northeastern states are still buried under multiple feet of snow, while other cities across the U.S. are beginning to thaw out from recent snowfall. Whether you’ve already been snowed in this year or only experience moderate winter snowfall in your area, you may not be aware of a dangerous, little-known winter weather culprit that can wreak havoc on your home from the inside out.

Ice dams: spots of ice and snow buildup can form under roof shingles during melting-freezing cycles; they sound harmless but can do a number on your roof and your home.

When outside air temperatures drop below freezing and snow falls for several days, snow can easily build up on rooftops. After days of melting and freezing, that snow and ice can work up under roof shingles, eventually melt and leak into your home’s attic damaging walls, ceilings and anything you might have stored in attic areas.

Ice dams are just one of the many cold-weather dangers that can affect home safety. But there are steps you can take to help keep your home safe from the damage ice dams can cause:

Before winter:

- Make sure your attic is well-insulated. Experts recommend attic insulation be rated at least an R-30 on the R-value scale.

- Make sure you do not have water heaters or other heating appliances installed in your attic. Heat-emitting equipment can speed the melting of snow on your roof.

- Make sure your attic is well-ventilated and make sure you have a good air barrier to prevent warm, moist air from living spaces from entering attics.

During winter:

- Try to keep snow on your roof to a minimum. Look for “roof rakes” that can help make it easier to stand on the ground and pull snow from your rooftops. Remember to be careful while raking and watch out for falling snow and ice.

- Keep gutters and downspouts clear of leaves and debris.
 

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