An integral facet of winter home upkeep that homeowners will need to understand is ice dam prevention. Ice dams can happen from fall through spring to the edge of the roof following a snowfall. These phenomena can lead to damage to structures, for example, mold in the loft, which can be extremely severe. Here is the way ice dams type, the way to prevent and eliminate ice dams, and that to call if a person should lead to damage to your property.
When snow accumulates to a roof, then a cycle of melting and refreezing happens. In an ideal world, the snow will melt the roof, then enter the gutters and flow harmlessly into the floor. However, two important aspects may cause difficulties: the external temperature and the temperature in your loft.
The warmer your loft is, the further melting will happen. However, once the outdoor air temperature is extremely low, the border of the roof remains below freezing and the water refreezes as it reaches that point. As more snow melts, additionally, it refreezes as it gets into the “ice dam,” along with also the dam keeps getting larger.
To make things worse, ice dams are a bit of a quiet destroyer, as water enters the house slowly. Also, it typically hurts the loft area, which is not a location that homeowners usually regularly. From the time you understand there is an issue, it is when the harm has burst from the loft and to different regions of the house.
What’s more, contrary to popular opinions, gutters don’t lead to ice dams. But, an ice dam may expand to a gutter if weather conditions allow.
Ice Dam Prevention Tips
Eliminate the snow from the roof
It is typical for homeowners to rev their snowblowers and dig their snow shovels after every winter snowfall to clear their sidewalks and drives. But to not be ignored is that the snow which has fallen on the house.
- Eliminate the initial three to four inches of snow out of your roofline. This can be best done using a roof rake or a long-handled brush which could let you take out the snow without using a ladder.
- Make certain downspouts are clear that filtered water gets an opportunity to drain correctly.
- If your region has received over a foot of snow, then it is ideal to clear not only the initial three to four inches together your roofline, as far as you can.
Incorporating roof maintenance in your snow removal regimen is a terrific way to prevent ice dams following a snowfall, however, you can find more long-term alternatives.
Insulate your loft
A well-insulated loft helps prevent the melt/freeze states where ice dams form by maintaining the loft temperature lower. Considering that the most important reason for ice dams is a too hot loft, a fantastic ice dam prevention alternative is decreasing the loft temperature.
Installing extra insulation in the loft area is as simple as laying additional layers across the current ones, or even more insulation blown in. But, there are limitations to this process, and it is ideal to employ or consult with a professional roofer or insulation contractor.
Furthermore, if you become aware of bare sections in your roof whereas the remaining part of the roof has snow, then there can be insufficient insulation beneath the bare places. To affirm that, have your loft inspected and remedy the situation if needed.
You also need to inspect the weather-stripping and/or insulating material on loft stairways or hatchways. Make sure it’s in great form and seals nicely. This can help keep the heat from the loft space and prevent ice dams.
Ventilate your loft
Despite optimum insulation, there’s still heat leakage into the loft. That is when the value of loft venting becomes evident.
First, inspect your loft to make confident the present vents have yet to be covered by insulation or other items.
The typical recommendation for ventilation is just one square foot of vent for every 150 feet of attic floor space. If your house doesn’t have that ratio (many older houses don’t), employ a contractor to cure the issue.
If your house doesn’t have vents, think about including a valve port. If you are not certain about the state of your roof, then speak to a specialist roofer for assistance or advice.
Eliminating ice dams
When an ice dam has shaped on your roof, then that does not indicate that water damage and mold growth happened in the house. However, it is always best to take out the ice dam since you detect that, well before it has an opportunity to cause harm to your house. Safely eliminating an ice dam could be achieved in many ways:
- Only knocking an ice dam using a roof rake is frequently enough to dislodge it. Doing this enables water to drain. Which will permit any standing water it is obstructing to drain correctly.
- As you don’t ever need to use rock salt onto your roof, then you may use calcium chloride to melt down the ice dam and permit water to once again flow freely.
- Eventually, another alternative is to employ a snow removal contractor to solve the issue.
Hint: Installing a water system underneath the roofing shingles may act as additional security.
For water damage restoration, contact PuroClean!
Now’s the opportunity to generate winter maintenance a priority. But even with ice dam prevention measures set up, you might continue to be vulnerable to an ice dam which may create a water reduction.
If you discover water harm (marks, slips, or lines) on ceilings or outdoor walls, it might signify an ice dam has shaped, and water and ice have pushed their way to your attic. Along with repairing the reason for the ice cube, it is important to recognize this is a legitimate water damage scenario.
The issue ought to be remediated by trained professionals to prevent additional harm to the structure (for instance, rotting), also to prevent mold growth — a health hazard to individuals living in the house.
And that is where your regional PuroClean Bartlett office will help in safeguarding your water-damaged home to a pre-loss condition.
