A fresh blanket of snow can make your home look like a winter wonderland, but it can also hide a serious threat to your roof and interior: ice dams. At FRS Roofing + Gutters, we’ve seen firsthand the damage these icy formations can cause. Understanding how they form is the first step in protecting your home.
What is an Ice Dam and How Does it Form?
As illustrated in the diagram above, an ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. The process is a cycle of melting and refreezing caused by a difference in temperature on your roof’s surface.
Here’s a breakdown of the process shown in the image:
- Heat Loss: The process often begins inside your home. Heat from your living area escapes into the attic through inefficient insulation or air leaks.
- Snow Melt: This escaping heat warms the upper portion of your roof deck, causing the snow on top to Melt.
- The Freeze: The melted water runs down the roof towards the eaves. Since the eaves overhang the house and are not warmed by the attic heat, this section of the roof remains Cold.
- Dam Formation: When the runoff reaches the cold eaves, it refreezes. Over time, this ice builds up, forming a solid Ice dam.
The Hidden Danger: Water Penetration
The ice dam itself isn’t the biggest problem; it’s what happens next. As more snow on the upper roof melts, the water flows down and gets trapped behind the ice dam. With nowhere to go, this pool of water backs up and can seep under your roof shingles.
This leads to Water penetration into your home, as shown in the diagram. The water can leak into your attic, ruin insulation, rot roof decking, and eventually damage your ceilings, walls, and floors inside.
How FRS Roofing + Gutters Can Help
Don’t wait until you see a water stain on your ceiling to address the issue. The key to preventing ice dams is to keep your roof at a uniform temperature. FRS Roofing + Gutters offers comprehensive solutions to tackle the root causes and protect your home:
- Attic Inspection & Insulation: We can assess your attic to ensure you have proper insulation to keep heat in your living space, not in your attic.
- Ventilation Solutions: Proper attic ventilation helps keep the roof deck cold, preventing snow from melting unevenly.
- Professional Snow Removal: Safely removing heavy snow from your roof can prevent the meltwater that feeds ice dams.
- Ice Dam Removal: If you already have an ice dam, our team can safely and effectively remove it without damaging your roof.
Protect Your Home This Winter
Ice dams are a preventable problem. Let the experts at FRS Roofing + Gutters help you keep your home safe and dry this winter.
Contact us today for an inspection!
🌐 Visit our website: https://frsroof.com/