Ice Dams - Dudley, MA

12/9/2019 (Permalink)

Call us at (508) 234-3399 for any water damage to your home caused by an ice dam! Image from icedamcompany.com

What is an ice dam?

A ridge of ice that forms at the edge of your roof and prevents water from draining from the roof. Water that backs up behind the dam can leak into your home and cause damage, even mold.

What causes ice dams?

Uneven roof surface temps can lead to ice dams forming.

For ice dams to form, there will be snow on the roof, and higher portions of the roof’s surface will be above freezing, while lower portions of the roof will be below. Freezing is 32 degrees Fahrenheit. For a portion of the roof to be below freezing, outside temps must also be below freezing.

The snow that is above freezing temperature will melt and flow down the roof until it reaches the portion of the roof that is below freezing. This water will then freeze, causing the ice dam.

The dam will get bigger as more snow melts and water goes down to the frozen portion of the roof. The water that is above, backs up behind the ice dam and stays a liquid. This water, with nowhere else to go, will find cracks in the roof and get into the attic, walls, and ceilings of your home or business.

Ice dams will usually form at the edge of the roof, because the rest of the roof has a source of heat, from the house.

A key to preventing ice dams Is to keep your attic cold!

To remove or prevent ice dams:

• Remove snow from your roof, eliminating any possibility of an ice dam forming
  • You can use a roof rake or push broom to push snow off the roof.
• If there is already an ice dam formed, and water is damaging the house-
  • Make channels through the dam so the water can drain.
  • Hose it off with warm water.
  • Work from the lower edge of the dam
• This is only a temporary solution!

Hire a professional to deal with the heat transfer issues that create the dams.

If an ice dam (s) cause damage to your home or business, call us at (508) 234-3399 for water damage restoration!