Ice Dam

An Ice dam is the ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind the ice dam can leak into the home and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas.

Different roof surface temperatures are caused by heat loss from the house. Other causes are from sources in the attic, such as chimneys, heat ducts, vents from the kitchen, bath, or wood burning stoves.

PREVENTION OF ICE DAMS

Ice dams can be prevented by minimizing heat loss from the home and having a uniform air temperature in your attic and roof space. Increase the ceiling and roof insulation with materials that have a high R-value (6-7) per inch. Make the ceiling air tight so that no heated air from the house is reaching the roof. Use attic shoots to promote equal air flow and temperature down into the overhangs and soffit Vents, where ice dams most frequently form.

ICE DAM REMOVAL

It is not uncommon to see people trying to remove ice dams by using garden equipment, roof rakes, and even chemicals. These method, while eventually effective can cause damage to your roof. At Precise and Snug Insulation we utilize a steam machine, if necessary, to remove ice dams and prevent risk of any structural damage before addressing the problem that is causing you to have ice damming in your structure.