Winter, though beautiful, comes with many challenges. Protecting your home from the harsh weather is one of those challenges. As a homeowner, it’s important to have your roof in mind during the winter months. One problem we come across quite often is ice dams. These are icy buildups that may look harmless, but they could cause a lot of damage to your roof and home.
Ice dams are ridges of ice that form along the edges of a roof. Heat escapes the house from the attic and melts the snow on the roof. The melted water starts running down the roof, but refreezes when it reaches the eaves, which are typically colder. This happens over and over again, creating an ice barrier that prevents melting snow from draining off. As water backs up behind the dam, it can seep under shingles and into your home, causing damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and more.
Since the ice dams block water from draining, water pools start forming on the roof. This creates a risk of water seeping through the shingles, leaking into your home, and causing water damage or mold. Ice dams can also cause gutter damage if not taken care of.
Prevention is key to avoiding costly repairs. Here are some steps to protect your home:
If an ice dam has formed, it’s essential to address it promptly. Call a professional promptly! Removing ice dams is dangerous, but professionals have tools and training to do it safely. Avoid using salt to melt the ice or chipping at the ice dam, because they can cause more damage to your roof.
At CCX Roofing, we specialize in protecting homes from winter weather. We see a lot of ice dams in Idaho and Utah and have a lot of experience preventing and repairing them. Contact us today for a professional inspection and solutions for your home.
