Ice dams and their prevention

11/17/2021 (Permalink)

Winter sure is closing in here in the northeast! The temperatures are dropping and the frost covers everything at the start of every day.

If you haven't begun your preparations for the Winter season, now, is a perfect time to get started!

This is the time to be extra vigilant when it comes to ice dams at your home or business. 

It's all about that roof!

Ice dams occur after a heavy snowfall when warm air in the attic causes the roof to warm and the snow to melt. Water running down the roof refreezes when it reaches the colder roof edge, forming a mound of ice.

The ice traps melt water, which can seep back up under shingles and drip through the roof into your house, causing wet and stained ceilings and walls, and peeling paint and rot.

The easiest way to prevent ice dams is by keeping your roof cold. This means never letting your roof temperature exceed 32 degrees. At 32 degrees, snow starts melting.

Most home and businesses heat loss is through the roof and air leaks caused by unblocked walls, gaps in drywall, and cracks around light fixtures, plumbing pipes, chimneys or heating vents.

Leaks can be very difficult to take care of because that requires that you roll back or rake your insulation back to find and block leaks. Typically using a foam or another method of caulking.

Proper insulation is imperative. You will want to start by making sure to measure your insulation. Building codes require about 12 to 14 in. of fiberglass or cellulose. Add more if you have less than 8 in. and have had ice dam problems in the past.

Blown-in cellulose and fiberglass are usually better than hand-placed batts, because they fill more tightly around rafters, joists and other obstructions, leaving fewer gaps. 

Ventilation is important for keeping your roof cold.

Keep the roof cold to minimize ice dams. Upgrade attic insulation to about R-40, plug up air leaks to the attic and improve attic ventilation.

A cold roof isn’t always a perfect solution. During winters with heavy snowfall, you may get ice dams anyway.

Ice dams may consistently form at the foot of roof valleys (the junction where two roofs meet at a right angle), because they fill with windblown snow. And some sections of the roof may be impossible to keep cold. That’s when you have to call on secondary strategies to prevent ice dam damage.

The very first thing that you can do is to make sure the snow is removed from your roof after a heavy snowfall as soon as possible, the longer the snow sits and compacts down, the harder it will be to remove it.

Flash around the chimney

A lot of local small businesses in our area are older renovated homes, where chimneys are prevalent.

Bridge the gap between chimney and house framing with L-shaped steel flashing held in place with unbroken beads of a fire-stop sealant.

Using canned spray foam or insulation isn't fire safe.

Sometimes despite all of your efforts, ice dams occur and with them water damage to your home or business.

SERVPRO of Lebanon/Hanover/Littleton has experienced technicians ready to help if you suffer water damage to your business.

No disaster is too big or small!

Call SERVPRO of Lebanon/Hanover/Littleton today at 603-298-6942.