Damage from ice dams

Ice dams can cause significant damage to your roof, exterior walls, and even interior walls by introducing moisture where it doesn't belong. You can reduce potential repair costs by taking these preventative measures to save time, money, and aggravation. As always, prevention pays off, and early detection is key. 

How are they caused? In winter, heat loss from the home can cause melted snow on the roof to run down to the gutter system. That water can then re-freeze at the unheated bottom edge of the roof causing ice-dams. This then prevents proper drainage, and water can seep below the roof, into the walls, and even into the home. 

Ice dams can harm walls and roof structures, leading to expensive repairs and maintenance costs. There is also a risk of getting respiratory issues due to ice dams as the presence of moisture can cause the development of mold and mildew. 

Preventing ice dams

Ice Dams are a huge nuisance they create a lot of huge unwanted expenses, they can be prevented by controlling the heat loss from home. Strategies to prevent them include: 

1. Increase attic insulation

The main culprit of heat loss is through the leaks in the attic, these can be tough to stop. Using a ladder safely climb into the attic and plug the leaks using foam, caulk and other methods. Remember to do this during the colder time as it can be hard to work in the attic during the warmer weather.

It is also a good idea to measure the insulation level in the attic, check the depth of the attic insulation. Upgrade the attic insulation if it falls below the building code standards on your region.

2. Use an ice dam prevention coating product

An adhesive ice and water barrier can be helpful as it adheres to the roof decking and waterproofs it. This solution can be a bit pricey, so it is helpful to reach out to a local building inspector or roofing company to better understand how far you might need to run it up roof for your particular situaion.

3. Use a snow rake regularly

Pull the snow down with the help of a snow rake, it is a very simple solution however it can be difficult to do on a building with more than 2 stories.

4. Install heat cables

High-resistance wires are ideal in areas where ice dams are a regular occurrence. Run the heat cable inside a downspout so it does clog with ice.

In cases where ice dams are a regular occurrence, you may need to call in a roofing company to diagnose the issue and address it at its source. This will often include insulation, vents, or other work on the roof. 

Found ice dams? Here's what to do. 

If ice dams are already present, then it's helpful to know how to fix the issue. There are several steps the homeowner can take, but be prepared to call in a professional if needed. 

What you need:

• Box fan
• Roof rake
• Calcium Chloride

If possible and practical, it can be helpful to use a box fan to blow cold air at the location suffering from ice dams (from inside the house). This will often involve entering the attic and locating the part of the roof (ceiling) that is conducting heat to the outside. Be careful - if there is an active leak, do not plug in any electrical appliance in the area. 

As indicated above, a roof rake can help address the issue at its source by removing snow buildup. A long-handled aluminum roof rake is a great tool but in a pinch a push broom can work as well. Be very careful of falling icicles, and you may wish to call in a professional if a ladder is required. 

Use calcium chloride (ice melter): Calcium chloride will help to melt the snow and ice, creating a channel for water and ice to flow down into the gutter system.  Sometimes it can be helpful to fill a sock or pantyhose with the ice melter chemical and laying it perpendicular to the ice dam to ‘drill a hole’ through the ice and get flow going.