Ice Dams Can Cause Serious Problems

2/2/2021 (Permalink)

We all like to stay warm during cold weather.  But did you know that keeping our homes heated can lead to an issue known as an ice dam. 

Ice dams occur when indoor heating rises throughout your home, warming your roof. Ice and snow on the warmer portion of the roof melts and trickles downward until it hits the colder part of your roof, where it refreezes.  This is known as an ice dam.Ice dams present many potential serious issues to your home or business. If the conditions become too drastic, your gutters and shingles may come off, and water can flow back into your house.  If the water sits, it can soak wood, insulation, and drywall, leading to mold growth and mildew odors.

Common signs of an ice dam are icicle and ice buildup around the edge of your roof.  If you observe these conditions, you may want to take steps to relieve the stress on your roof. You do not want to use too much force, as your roof may become damaged.

• While it may seem counterintuitive, blowing cold air with a fan can help freeze exterior water in place.  This will prevent it from running and weighing down your gutters. 
• Remove excess snow from your roof.  Use caution when doing this. If on a ladder, use caution.  If you remove snow and ice from the ground, be careful not to get hit by falling material.

If you identify that you have an ice dam at your business, follow the above steps.  If damage has already occurred, call SERVPRO of Trumbull, Monroe & Northern Bridgeport.  We have decades of experience remediating damage from ice dams.  We can be reached 24/7 at 203.324.1642.