Ice Dams

After spending the last week worrying about and subsequently dealing with pesky ice dams, I felt it might be an appropriate topic to cover on this blog. 

This winter has been particularly bad for ice dams.  The weather has rapidly changed (going from well below freezing, to rain and above freezing temperatures, and then immediately back to sub-freezing) and most homes (absent a good deal of preventative measures) are experiencing some form of ice build-up. 

The best long-term solution to avoiding ice build-up is to make sure that your attic/crawl space is properly insulated.  Proper insulation keeps warm air trapped inside and away from the roof.  When the roof begins to warm up from inside your attic/crawl space, it causes the lowest layer of snow on your roof to melt.  The melting snow becomes water that runs down the side of your roof.  Once the water reaches a point on the roof where it is no longer warm enough to stay in liquid form, it freezes again.  This typically occurs just before the water reaches the gutter. 

This process, repeated several times, leaves huge build-ups of ice that block water's ability to reach your gutters and downspouts.  Water builds up behind the dams of ice, and the result is usually unwanted water inside.  Water enters through small cracks, nail holes in your shingles, etc... 

Aside from this longer-term solution, there are several other tricks that might prove fruitful in your fight against ice dams.  Heating cables sit on the corners of your roof and run down downspouts to keep melted water moving and off of your roof.  Heating cables come in a variety of lengths and typically cost between $30 and $100.  Home improvement stores also sell small pucks made of salt that can be placed in common ice dam locations.  The salt acts similarly to salt on the road, working to melt away ice that might build up. 

At the end of the day, it is indeed very difficult to deal with ice dams.  Even with heating tape and salt, there is a chance they will rear their ugly heads.  The best solution is to get the insulation in the attic and continuously monitor them.  Check inside to make sure you aren't seeing moisture.  If you can, knock down any ice that isn't strongly affixed to the roof.  These small steps will go a long way in keeping the water outside.