Ice buildup can be prevented by controlling home heat loss. This removes one of the ingredients necessary for the formation of an ice dam. A roof rake and a push broom can be used to remove snow, but they can damage roofing materials. Learning to prevent ice buildup on the roof is easier for you and your home than it is for you and your home to learn how to remove them.
The three main approaches to preventing ice dams are snow removal, insulation, and installing gutter helmets. The most effective is a combination of the three to ensure that you never have to worry about ice accumulations again. The best known method for protecting ice dams is to insulate and ventilate the attic. Other ice build-up prevention solutions include metal roofs, installation of thermal cables and routine snow removal on the roof.
But the long-term solution for ice dams, regardless of the roofing material, is proper insulation and professional air sealing. Ice dams begin when snow melts on an upper, warmer part of the roof, and then flows to the colder eaves, where it freezes again. Remember that ice accumulations occur when ice and snow melt and refreeze quickly when heat escapes through the roof through insulation and ventilation. If you want to prevent ice accumulators from forming in your home this winter, contact the experts at Asher Exteriors to learn more about the heat of helmets.
On the one hand, the melt water that accumulates along the ice dam can seep through the roof and enter your home, causing significant water damage. If ignored, ice dams can cause serious damage to roofs, gutters, paint, insulation, and interior drywall and other surfaces. In addition, if the ice dam is already causing damage due to leaks that reach your home, cleaning the area with a ton of water will likely worsen the problem. If you want to avoid the accumulation of ice prey in the first place, there are some tried and true methods to implement.
It's important to know what an ice dam looks like so you can identify it and find a solution before it's too late. Ice dams form only when the space inside an attic along the bottom of the roof cover is above the freezing point. If you can't detect signs of leaks in ice dams, whether on outdoor ceilings or in the attic or on roofs, you may not need to do anything. Homes that suffer from recurring ice dams often suffer from drafts, uneven temperatures between rooms, and are difficult to heat and cool.
It's worth knowing some solutions for defrosting, such as melting ice dams with chemical compounds, in order to start solving the problem before it gets worse. In addition to indoor water damage, large ice dams can be very heavy and can damage gutters and even pose a safety hazard to the people below. Ice reservoirs may look like icicles hanging from the roof line or gutters, or they may look like a block or shelf of ice on the roof that could be holding or suppressing more snow. With the right insulation for your house and attic, you'll trap heat inside your house, where it belongs and that will help stop ice buildup in its path (in addition to keeping everyone inside your house much more comfortable).
