Ice Dam Season

12/27/2021 (Permalink)

Should you suffer any damage, contact SERVPRO of Elk River, Becker and Big Lake 24 hours a day at (612) 444-3336!

Preventing Ice Dams

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. Water back ups behind the dam which can cause leaking into a home. When this happens it causes damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas.

Stop Ice Dams With A Cold Roof

The key to preventing the ice dams from occurring is to keep one's attic and roof cold. This is the key to preventing it because when it is warmer in spots on the roof it will cause the snow to melt. The melting snow then runs off the edge of the house which is still at freezing temperatures causing the icicles to form. Measures to help keep one's roof colder are to close the attic bypasses, measure the attic insulation level, and add roof and soffit vents.

1. Close the attic bypasses

The average home loses all of heats through the ceiling into the attic. One can prevent this by plugging the leaks using foam.

2. Measure the attic insulation level

Building codes require about 12 to 14 inches of fiberglass and cellulose. One should be adding more if there is less than 8 inches, and have had ice dam issues in the past.

3. Add roof and soffit vents

The minimum ventilation area should be about 1 square foot of vent per 300 square foot of ceiling area. One can never have too much ventilation.

Taking these precautions unfortunately cannot guarantee that the ice dams will not form, but taking these steps will help prevent it.

Should you suffer any damage, contact SERVPRO of Elk River, Becker and Big Lake 24 hours a day at (612) 444-3336!