Prevention Is Key to Avoiding Ice Dams

12/30/2018 (Permalink)

Ice dam can cause extensive water damage to your Knoxville, TN home

It's easy to fall into the habit of ignoring the gutters that run along the roof of your home. Unfortunately, that hard-to-see space can trap a lot of debris throughout the year, and when they become clogged with leaves and dirt, you and your home may suffer from the effects of an ice dam.

There are a few crucial facts all homeowners should understand about this type of winter water damage:

• When ice builds up at the edge of the roof, water pools and melts into the home.
  
• The resulting damages often go unnoticed until repairs are very expensive.
  
• Ice dams and their related damages are avoidable.
  
• Proper insulation can prevent dams from forming.
  
• Roof maintenance and ventilation also stop dams from forming.
  

How Do Dams Happen?

As winter temperatures fluctuate, snow on the roof melts and refreezes. Just a couple of inches of snow on the roof can melt and refreeze into dams. As the cycle of thawing and freezing continues, a roof leak may develop until water seeps behind siding or inside the walls. Once there, the developing damage is often out of sight until much of the home has been impacted.

You Can Prevent an Ice Dam

Ceiling insulation with a rating of R-38 and about 12 inches of either cellulose or fiberglass is a strong preventative step. This layer of insulation should be consistently deep with special care given to areas where the walls meet the ceiling. Make sure insulation is sealed appropriately to prevent air and moisture from seeping where it shouldn't be.

Next, make sure there's a soffit-to-ridge ventilation system installed along the roof. If you have some ventilation, but you're not sure if it's adequate, contact a water damage restoration professional to assess the existing system.

Finally, restrict the loss of heat from the warmth indoors through the attic. Spray foam urethane, caulking, and weather-stripping can seal up holes, such as around lighting fixtures.

An ice dam can cause extensive water damage to your Knoxville, TN, home. Act now to put prevention techniques in place and contact professionals for help when you don't know how to proceed.