Ice dam prevention keeps your home safe and warm in the winter. Learn why ice dam prevention is crucial and how Stone Creek helps if you’re overwhelmed with winter roofing issues.
WHAT CAUSES ICE DAMS?
Freezing rain and snowfall may be inevitable this winter, but that doesn’t mean your home’s roof should suffer all season. Moisture mixed with extremely low temperatures often results in ice dams, which are ridges of ice that form around the roof’s edge.
When indoor heat goes through your ceiling to the attic, it warms the roof’s surface. Snow on the warmer area of the roof begins to melt. Melted ice flows down until it reaches the area of the roof that’s still below freezing, causing the water to refreeze into an ice dam. Making matters worse, as the ice dam melts, the excess water seeps into your roof’s underlayment causing extensive damage to the structure.
HOW DO YOU GET RID OF AN ICE DAM?
When you notice large icicles hanging from your roof’s edge, it can be an alarming sight. Don’t panic. There are a few actions you can take to get rid of ice dams temporarily. One of the safest and most obvious ways is to run hot water over the ice dam, which will gently melt it away. Make sure your gutters are clear so the water can quickly drain off.
Keep in mind, the longer an ice dam forms over time, the riskier it is to remove it. Certain methods could cause more damage, so you must be careful, or—better yet—get professionals involved. They can perform ice dam removal procedures safely, such as:
INSTALLING HEAT CABLES
This step can be taken as a precautionary measure in the summertime. This makes it easier for you to melt ice on your roof in the winter. Experts suggest that you use heat cables temporarily or install them permanently to eliminate future ice dam problems. They could be installed on northern-facing roof planes and have a higher roof plane draining onto them. If not, the snow may melt under the sun and form another ice dam.
SNOW REMOVAL
If warmer weather is in the forecast, the ice dam will likely melt. In this case, your roofer may choose to remove the rest of the snow from your roof. Otherwise, the sunlight could melt the remainder of the snow, forming another ice dam when it refreezes.
Professionals follow the National Roofing Contractors Association’s (NRCA’s) recommendation to leave a small layer of snow on the roof so the shovel doesn’t ruin the roof’s surface.
PREVENT RECURRING ICE DAMS
When your gutter’s clogged, it makes it hard for melting snow to drain off the roof effectively. That’s why you must perform routine gutter cleaning and maintenance. Your gutters’ condition plays a significant role in the proper functionality of your roof, especially during the winter.
Installing gutter guards helps protect your system from catching excess debris, which causes your system to back up when overaccumulation isn’t addressed immediately. To promote proper airflow and keep water melting and draining correctly, prioritize adequate attic ventilation.
STONE CREEK SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY REMOVES ICE DAMS
If you see icicles on your gutters, don’t hesitate to call Stone Creek Roofing, since chances are, there may also be a snow dam on your roof. Colorado winters bring freezing temperatures and countless inches of snow. Is your roof prepared for what the season has in store? If not, don’t worry—Stone Creek offers everything you need to keep your roofing structure standing firm this winter and those to come.
When we began transforming residential and commercial roofs over ten years ago, we built our company on quality, workmanship, integrity, community, and customer service. That means, this winter, we’re prepared to give our loyal customers the care they need to keep their roofs in mint condition. We aim to ensure they’re always 100% satisfied with our solutions. It won’t be long before the Colorado snowfall begins this winter. Before the season starts, call Stone Creek to inspect your roof for free to make sure everything is in top condition.
