While it’s been a pretty mild winter in the Treasure Valley so far, we still have quite a ways left to go. In fact, it wasn’t that long ago that we experienced a snow-apocalypse, which created beautiful icicles and damaging ice dams on many of our roofs.
Why is this important? An ice dam is snow that has melted and run down your roof somewhere it shouldn’t have and froze again. Even worse, as heavy snow continues to melt, it flows down to the same spot where it backs up. This, in turn, forces water underneath the shingles and underlayment of your roof, causing lasting damage both inside and outside of your home.
That’s why Madison Roofing would like to provide you with the following tips for preventing and removing damaging ice dams should we get another heavy snow in the near future.
The Cause Of Ice Dams
The first step to preventing ice dams is understanding what causes them. An ice dam forms when the roof of your home is too warm. When the snow melts, it slides down your roof before refreezing again when it reaches colder areas, near the eaves. Over time, this causes water to back up and find its way under the shingles of your roof and inside your home.
A roof becomes warm enough to melt snow when your attic isn’t properly insulated. This allows the warm air inside to rise where it can melt the snow on the exterior of your home. Below are some common culprits that can cause a warm roof:
- A poorly ventilated attic.
- Improper or insufficient insulation.
- Porch roofs or overhangs.
- Excessive snow on the roof.
Other factors that can contribute to ice dams include tree coverage, winter weather conditions, house design, or which side of your roof is facing the sun when it’s at its hottest.
Preventing Ice Dams
Improve Insulation & Ventilation: Is your attic properly insulated and ventilated? If not, warm air can build up inside of it and rise to your rafters. If you’re not sure, it’s important to hire a professional to check it out. Otherwise, you could be losing heat through your roof that not only causes ice dams but reduces energy efficiency, which wastes money on expensive heating bills.
Prevent Snow Build-Up: When snow builds up on your roof, it acts as an insulator, warming the air at its base, where your roof is. That’s why it’s important to have excessive snow removed from your roof to prevent this problem before it happens. After all, professional snow removal from your roof is cheaper than water damage and roof repair. However, you should never attempt to do this yourself due to the risk of falling and injury.
Don’t Install A Furnace or Water Heater in Your Attic: If your home has a furnace or water heater located in the attic, you may want to have an HVAC professional move them to a lower level.
Have Your Gutters Cleaned Each Fall: Dead leaves in your gutters can prevent water runoff, which can lead to ice dams during the winter.
Boise Roofing Professionals
When it comes to removing ice dams, you need the help of roofing professionals. It’s simply too dangerous to attempt to do it yourself. The professionals at Madison Roofing have the tools, equipment, and experience necessary to do the job safely. Our roofers will also take the time to avoid damaging your roof during the process of removing any ice. As your leading Boise roofing provider in the Treasure Valley, we don’t cut corners and believe that quality is key.
Contact us today by filling out our online form or give our Treasure Valley office a call at (208) 344-5379 for a free roof repair estimate. or call us at 1.800.767.8733 for a no-cost, no-obligation quote.
