While snow and ice on the roads are a common winter hazard, there is another, lesser-known threat associated with cold, snowy winter weather: ice dams. Ice dams form when warm air from the home escapes through an attic with inadequate insulation. This warm air heats up the roof, causing snow to melt and the resulting water to flow down to the edge of the roof, where it’s still cold.
Some of the snow runoff then refreezes, and any remaining water is trapped underneath and pushed back under the shingles, where it moves into the attic and from there to ceilings and interior walls, wreaking havoc in its path.
Signs of Ice Damming
Fortunately, there are several signs of ice damming that are very easy to spot, and if you’re vigilant you can catch the problem before it has a chance to cause major damage to your roofing system.
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Icicles. While icicles hanging from your home’s roofline or gutters may make a pretty picture, icicles of any size are a common indicator of the presence of an ice dam.
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Water or ice on soffits. The soffit is the underside of the overhanging part of your roof. Take heed if you notice water dripping from or icicles building on the soffits or soffit vents, as this is another sign of an ice dam.
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Ice on the exterior of your home. Watch out for water dripping down the side of your house or ice forming directly under window frames.
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A wall of ice. If an ice dam gets big enough, your gutters will fill with ice and you will be able to see what looks like a wall of ice forming over them.
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Water leaking into your home. If it gets to the point that water starts entering your home through the ceilings, walls or window sills, unfortunately the ice dam wasn’t caught in time and has already started to cause damage to your home.
If you have an issue with ice dams and need the advice of an expert roofing contractor, don’t hesitate to give Muth & Roofing a call at (614) 682-3060. Our experienced roofers will take care of the problem so that ice dams are no longer one of your winter woes.