Ice dams can cause a whole host of problems. Not only can it damage your roof and gutters, but it can also result in water leaks that ruin insulation, creating ideal conditions for mold growth. By learning how this problem occurs, you can take steps to keep it from happening to your home this winter.
Anatomy of an Ice Dam
Heat losses from inadequate attic sealing can cause your home’s indoor heat to rise to attic level. Snowfall on your roof makes for a surprisingly effective insulator, allowing the heat to remain trapped long enough for the snow to reach its melting point at 32 degrees.
The melted snow flows down the roof until it reaches a portion that’s below freezing, eventually forming a dam that traps water behind it. The dammed water eventually seeps into the attic through various cracks and openings, causing damage to the ceiling, interior walls and other portions of the attic.
Preventative Steps You Can Take
If you want to put a stop to ice dam problems fast, here are a few solutions you can try:
- You can use a long-handled aluminum rake to remove snowfall and excess water from your roof, alleviating ice dam problems momentarily.
- You can break up ice dams with a deicer, such as calcium chloride. This will melt the ice, creating a channel that allows water to exit into the gutters.
A permanent solution to your ice dam problems, includes sealing your attic against heat loss, while making sure your Dayton home has the proper roof ventilation. For instance, soffit vents paired with a properly-placed ridge vent will help cooler air circulate through the roof and prevent ice dams from forming.
Put an end to ice dams by contacting the seasoned professionals at Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc. Our mission is to help Dayton area homeowners with all of their heating, cooling and ventilation needs.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Kenneth Sponsler/Shutterstock”