If you live in a cold area, then ice dams are always going to be a possibility. With the right knowledge, you can make sure that ice dams to not cause any serious problems for you and your home. Here is a basic guide to safely dealing with ice dams:
Understanding the Ice Dam
Ice dams form from a combination of snow on the roof, an improperly insulated attic, and freezing outdoor temperatures. The heat from a poorly insulated attic will melt snow on your roof, causing water to run to the edges and freeze again. As this continues to happen, ice dams form and prevent snow and water from sliding off of the roof. This leaves pools of water with nowhere to go but inside your house.
Preventing the Ice Dam
Preventing ice dams isn’t difficult, but it will require some effort. You should call in a roofer to make sure that your roof is sound and your attic is well-insulated. If your attic is well-insulated, warm air is less likely to escape and cause the snow to melt.
In order to be sure that you don’t develop an ice dam, you should hire a roofer to come out and sweep your roof clear of snow after a major snowstorm. While you may want to do this yourself, it is extremely dangerous and can damage your roof if not done correctly.
Getting Rid of the Ice Dam
If an ice dam develops and your home is in real and immediate danger of serious leaks, there are some short-term solutions that can help. Use warm water to create pipelines in the dam, freeing up some of the water. This is a very temporary solution—the best course of action is to call a roofer, who can take care of the entire dam with pressurized steam and other methods.
If you want to make sure that you don’t develop an ice dam in the first place, then you should contact Apex Exteriors. At Apex Exteriors, we specialize in roofing, siding, and window services. For more information about our Naperville, Northbrook, and Glenview area services, call (847) 961-4601 today.
Last Updated on September 5, 2018 by ApexRoofingServices
