Between the holiday season and the glistening of freshly fallen snow, the winter months can be magical. But as much as we love the winter months, the inclement weather, cold temperatures, and snow can wreak havoc on your home, roof, and drainage system.
One of the most common winter-related issues New England homeowners experience are ice dams. They can leave you frustrated, cause damage to the interior of your home, and will leave you with expensive repair bills.
What Are Ice Dams?
Ice dams can form when the snow on a roof, outside temperatures, and a home’s energy leakage interact, causing the top section of snow to be warmer than 32 degrees and the bottom section of snow to be colder than 32 degrees for a period of time.
When the upper portion of snow starts to melt, it flows down the roof and will sit on top of the colder portion where it will freeze and cause icicles to form. As the process continues, the build-up of snow will act like a dam, blocking the melted snow from being able to flow off the roof.
The build-up of water now has nowhere to go and will start to push up under the shingles, leading to roof and roof trim leaks.
What Damage Can Ice Dams Cause?
Ice dams can cause massive damage to your home, with the most common being roof leaks. When these leaks make their way into the interior of a home, homeowners can experience water leaks in the attic and other rooms of the home as well as wet insulation. Water has the ability to travel into the smallest of crevices, and a build-up can cause hazardous mold growth, rotting of wood, and can short out the electrical system.
This damage is expensive to repair and can even cause an increase in energy bills.
How to Prevent Ice Dams
The best way to prevent ice dams is to keep your roof as cold as possible, and the best way to do this is to ensure you have the right kind of insulation and that any interior leaks are filled so to limit interior energy leakage.
You’ll also want to make sure your roof ventilation system is working properly.
Ice Dam Removal & Roofing Inspection in Uxbridge, Framingham & Worcester, MA
Helping to prevent ice dams won’t only save you money but it will also lengthen the lifespan of your roof. To schedule your inspection or help in the event of an ice dam, contact Nor’easter Roofing today at 508-667-3278 or by filling out our online contact form.