Ice Dams Can Ruin a Roof If Not Dealt With Before Winter Arrives
Cold temperatures and heavy snowfall during the winter promotes the formation of ice dams. An ice dam can cause serious damage to any home if not dealt with properly. Unfortunately, most homeowners are left unaware of the risk until the damage to their roof becomes irreparable.
What are ice dams?
Ice dams are ridges of ice that form on the edges of the roof. Melted snow will drain from warm roof but refreeze on the frozen edges. Warm roofs are a result of heat loss due to insufficient insulation, warm air leakage, and inadequate ventilation in attics. If you have an ice dam is probably because of any one of these factors or a combination of all of them.
Insufficient insulation
Some homes do not have enough insulation to keep warm air in their house, especially at the junctions of the roof and walls. Heat transfers through the frames and forms a thermal bridge, basically this is a gap where warm air can easily escape to the attic. This warms the roof and melts the snow. Melted water then runs down to the overhang and refreezes when it gets to the edge.
Air leakage through walls and ceilings
Warm air can leak through walls and ceilings. This will cause the overall temperature of the attic to climb and that will melt snow on the roof. Proper insulation will help reduce the attic temperature during cold winter days in Albany.
Poor ventilation in attics
Having poor ventilation in the attic will also cause it to warm up and contribute to the buildup of ice dams on the roof. Proper ventilation in the attic during the winter months can draw in cold air from the outdoors and blow out warm attic air. It's not just about quality insulation but also about proper ventilation.
How ice dams can damage your home
Ice dams typically form after a substantial snowfall followed by consecutive days of freezing temperatures. During a cold Albany winter, indoor warm air, being lighter than outdoor air, rises and seeks to escape through cracks in the home. This heats up the roof causing snow to melt. As melted water flows down the roof, it refreezes at the cold edges, creating ice dams. These dams block the flow of water, leading to pooling that can seep through shingles and into the home, resulting in significant damage. Consequences may include interior water damage to insulation, ceilings, and walls, as well as broken gutters and shingles, and the potential growth of allergy-inducing molds.
How to Protect Your Home from Ice Dams
The best defense against the damages of ice dams is to make sure you have a cold roof. By maintaining a cold temperature in the roof, you stop snow from melting and forming an ice dam. This can be achieved by improving your home insulation and ventilation systems and by sealing the attic.
Insulation is a barricade that prevents heat loss or heat gain. Proper insulation reduces air exchange between your home and the outdoors. A third of the heat loss from homes in the Albany area escapes through the attic. By fixing any gaps, cracks, and other problems in the attic you can significantly decrease the warm air leakage that leads to ice dams. As a bonus, by having quality insulation installed you will save money on your home heating and cooling energy costs.
Prevent ice dam formation with home insulation
True Building Performance specializes in safe, sustainable and energy efficient solutions. Our experts will provide you with a comprehensive solution to prevent ice dam formations on your homes. Contact us today for a free consult!