Winter did not come quietly this year for us here in Minnesota. We have had subzero temperatures all throughout December, and now into January–and it can take a toll on us. Not only do cold temperatures affect your body, but it can also take a toll on your roof.
Your roof is one of the most crucial parts of your home, and it tend to get overlooked and untouched. During the winter season, your gutters plug up with ice, then water runoff from the roof gets stuck by the dam and gradually backs up the roof, moves under the shingles, and leaks into the house.
Though they may not seem like a big issue, it is extremely important to remove an ice dam as soon as possible–because it could result in thousands of dollars in damage.
What is an Ice Dam?
Ice dams can be a big, big problem for your house and building maintenance in cold areas. An ice dam is the ridge of ice that occurs at the lowest edge of your roof which stops melting snow from draining as it normally would. Melted snow that backs up behind the ice dam can seep into your home and can cause damage, not only to your roof, but to your walls, floors, ceilings, and insulation.
How to Ice Dams Form?
An ice dam can form when snow expands on the slanted roof of a house with not enough insulation, which causes warm air seeps into the attic through chimneys, attic hatches, and recessed lights. Warm air can seep in and move to the roof which melts snow.
Other elements such as tree coverage and weather conditions can also cause ice dams.
Properly Installed Gutters & Ice Dams
Winter comes around every year, so it is important to regularly check your roof for ice dams and make sure you have removed any debris from your gutters. When gutters are properly installed to your home, it will make sure that your gutters drain correctly as the winter sun warms your rooftop causing snow to melt. Keeping your gutters free of any material will help them from overflowing in the spring, preventing water to pool up against the foundation.
If you have a question regarding your roof, gutters or think you have an ice dam, simple give us a call at 612-221-0362 today.
