Ice Dams

Ice Dams

Ice dams and resulting icicles hanging from roof areas usually occur after a heavy snowfall and several days of freezing temperatures. Warm air inside your home leaks into the attic and warm the underside of the roof causing snow and ice on the roof to melt. The melted water will drain along the roof, under the snow, until it reaches the cold overhang. The overhang being at the same temperature as the outdoors causes the melted water to re-freeze and form an ice dam and icicles. The ice dam then can cause water to flow under the shingles in an uphill direction contrary to the design of the roof system, and the results may be a water spot on the ceiling. The following is recommend to deal with the problem:   

  • Use caution when walking under icicles
  • Do not get onto the roof, overhangs or attempt to remove ice dams from the ground as falling ice, debris or tools can cause injuries or damage the roof or gutters
  • Seal air leaks to your attic to stop warm air leakage, the source of the problem
  • Most ice dams and the resulting water leaks are not a result of a defective roof, but a function of heat loss from the building melting snow on the roof. 
  • Keep second floor closet doors closed to reduce warm air leaks through attic access panels
  • The best solution is to add additional insulation to your attic to a value of R-38, which will significantly reduce the heat loss to the roof in winter and reduce heat build up on the second floor during summer months
  • Most garage roofs, which have no heat loss to the roof, have little or no evidence of ice dams.
  • An ice dam or leaks caused by thawing water due to ice dams are not a sign of a defective roof. Water leaks due to ice dams are due to water running uphill, something shingle roofs are not desiged to resist.

The Association installed ridge vents on all roofs in the 1980’s to reduce the problem and upgrades ridge vents to the latest technology, installs waterproof underlayment on roof edges and increases soffit ventilation when roofs are replaced or siding is refinished on buildings with brick fronts, which were constructed without these vents

Sources: US Department of Energy, US EPA, Certain-Teed Home Institute, Ownens-Corning Roofing and Asphalt, LLC, University of Minnesota Extension Service.

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