What are Ice Dams?

11/25/2020 (Permalink)

Photo by Gabor Szuts via Upsplash

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining off the roof.  If left untreated, they can tear off your gutters, loosen shingles, and cause water to back up under those shingles and drain into your home. Water that cannot drain off properly works its way under your roof covering and flows into the attic.  When that happens, the results aren't pretty: peeling paint, warped floors, stained and sagging ceilings. Not to mention soggy insulation in the attic, which loses R-value and becomes a magnet for mold and mildew.

Getting rid of ice dams for good is simple: just keep the entire roof the same temperature as the eaves.  You accomplish this by increasing ventilation, adding insulation and sealing off air leaks.