Preventing Ice Dams: Solutions
Ice damming damage is the worst thing that could happen to a home. By taking the right preventative approach you can avoid costly damage and complications from ice dams. To avoid having to remove them, you should try preventing ice dams from forming. Keeping your attic and roof cool is the key to preventing ice dams. In the aftermath of a snowfall, the roof will have a thick layer of snow. As the temperature rises, the roof will soon have bare patches. Where the snow has melted off, and the eaves may even have icicles. It can cause damage to roofs and homes every year. But the experts at Gutter Medics want you to know how to prevent ice dams from forming.
As the winter season approaches, ice damming prevention is on many homeowners’ minds. Ice dams will cause snow build-up along the eaves of a roof and then freeze. The ice creates a dam that prevents melting water from draining away which could lead to major damage to your home’s shingles or worse.
This blog post will provide you with five solutions to prevent ice dams and protect your home this winter. To find out if our services suit your goals, you can see the reviews on our website. Call our nearest service area in your home.
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What Is Ice Damming On The Roof?
An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into the home and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas.
How to fix ice damming on a roof while still snowing? How to prevent ice dams from forming on every roof in the first place? What is an ice dam, anyway? Any of these questions have likely been running through your mind as you look out at that massive pile of white stuff covering everything.
Do Gutters Cause Ice Dams?
No, gutters do not cause ice dams. It is caused by heat loss from the home passing through an exterior opening or pathway for heated air to escape. This includes the attic hatch and gables(openings in the roof where walls meet).
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The 5 Best Ways To Prevent Ice Dams
1. Steamer
It effectively eliminates the entire ice dams on your roof. Melting ice involves heat most of the time. We recommend you take a closer look at a less destructive, more practical-pressurized steamer before you bring out the flamethrower. Specialists in ice dam removal use steamers for melting it. As a result of removing it, the snowmelt drains. Due to their high cost, steamer machines cannot be used for one-off jobs. Additionally, using a steamer machine on an icy roof is hazardous. If you’re thinking of removing ice dams using a steamer, then you’re better off hiring a professional who owns one. This service, however, does not come cheap. Depending on the size of the dam and the difficulty of reaching it, it may take several hours to remove.
2. Chemical ice melter
Calcium chloride, an inorganic compound found in salt, is used commonly for de-icing. You should avoid using salt on your roof because it can damage the shingles, the landscaping, and the concrete. The process of applying ice melt-up on your roof is a dangerous attempt. To prevent your boots from slipping, you might consider using easy-to-toss ice melt tablets. The pantyhose or socks can also be filled with ice melter, and placed over the ice dam, hanging over the gutter. Water will drain off your roof through the ice melt. Besides, it may not disappear. The water will remain clear, which is the major cause of damage.
3. Insulation
Energy bills can be reduced, and it is possible to do it yourself. Remember that ice dams are the result of heat loss from inside the home. Maintaining a temperature below freezing prevents the snow from melting. When snow doesn’t melt, the water can’t freeze and ice dams don’t form. The best way to prevent your roof from heating up is to seal off the attic. Which will stop warm air from your living room and getting into it. Sealing of the attic can be done by applying a sealant, such as a spray foam around holes (like recessed lights), ductwork, HVAC systems, and so on. The roof can be kept cooler by sealing air leaks, but you should also insulate the attic floor. A variety of insulation options are available for roofs. Examples are spray foam, fiberglass, and blow-in insulation. Baffles between trusses should be used when insulating the roof sheathing so that airflow will not be blocked. Preventing it also requires this step.
4. Ventilation
It is still possible for the roof to become warm when there is quality insulation in the attic. Roof ventilation can prevent this from happening. When your attic is properly ventilated, the heated air can escape before it can warm the surface of your roof. In winter, vents keep the surface of your roof cold, so that temperatures between the roof and the overhang don’t fluctuate. Attic ventilation can be accomplished in many ways. Ventilation systems typically include a ridge vent at the top of the roof to exhaust hot air and soffit vents beneath the eaves to draw in cool air. Ventilation extends the lifespan of asphalt shingles and prevents attic moisture problems besides preventing ice dams. In addition to ventilation type and size (soffits, ridge vents, gable vents, etc.) price is determined by several variables. So if you do it yourself, you can save money, however installing ventilation requires time, knowledge, and equipment.
5. Metal roofing
Metal roofs are famous for their ability to shed snow well, compared with shingles. Also having a sleek surface, metal roofs also reflect solar heat, even when covered in snow. The bottom layer of snow on a metal roof, when exposed to solar heat on a sunny day, starts to melt and makes its way off. The most cost-effective way to remove ice dams is not to remove or install on top of good shingles, especially since metal roofs cost twice as much as shingles.
No matter the different needs of your roof some key strategy applies to reduce ice dam risks. Whether you need a low-cost solution or want something more expensive for long-term insurance against future water damage. These five solutions should help you find what’s right for you and your home. If you are looking for an easy way to protect your home from ice dams. There is no better solution than having a professional take care of the job. The best option is to hire someone experienced in installing ice dam prevention measures. And when it comes to choosing which company to hire; always do your research, and make sure their methods align with what job you want on your property before making any decisions. It’s worth noting that if flooding gets bad enough in some areas, towns will even declare an emergency so homeowners should stay aware of local weather alerts as well!
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