It’s no secret, this winter has been one of the harshest on record in the Greater Boston area. As you shovel away snow from your sidewalk and driveway as each storm passes, make sure that you don’t ignore the snow and ice that is accumulating on your roof. It may look pretty, but there is a major threat posed by this snow buildup – ice dams.
How an ice dam forms:
At first, your roof is covered in snow. As the storm blows over, though, any warmth on your roof’s surface can cause snow to melt and run down your roof. Unfortunately, not all of the water may leave your roof – some of it will build up behind an ice dam caused by freezing snow near your gutters.
This may sound harmless at first, but it is important to realize that this water buildup can leak through any small cracks in your roof, causing damage to your roof and your attic, including warping and detachment of eave troughs, wood rot, and more. The damage can even sometimes delve deeper – into your home’s ceiling and interior walls causing drywall and plaster damage.
If you see icicles forming on the edges of your roof, you probably have an ice dam forming. This buildup of ice at the roofline is one sure sign that the snow on your roof is melting and has the potential to cause you serious issues.
Preventing ice dam formation:
Thankfully, there are a few things that you can try in order to prevent the formation of ice dams (and the potential for extensive damage to your home). Here are two suggestions:
Carefully brush the snow off of your roof when it is fresh. You can use a broom or roof rake, but make sure not to damage your shingles in the process – you don’t want to prevent one problem and cause another!
Use Ice Melt tablets like these. They eliminate the need to climb on a ladder and endanger your safety. All you need to do is toss a few onto your roof from the safety of the ground. It will melt through existing ice and snow and prevent ice dam formation.
If you look in your roof and notice a place where water is leaking in due to an ice dam, regulate the difference in temperature in your roof by blowing air from a box fan at the leak’s location. This will freeze the pooling water in its tracks.
Remember, though, that it’s not worth risking your health to remove snow from your roof. It’s a tough job that’s sometimes best left to the professionals. If you need help taking measures to ensure your home’s safety, we recommend hiring someone that can take care of the snow and ice.
If you have an ice dam issue:
Thankfully, most interior and exterior damage caused by ice dams is covered under a standard homeowners insurance policy. If you have found water damage in your attic (or on your ceilings or interior walls) due to an ice dam, call Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency immediately to start the claim process.
You can call our office at 617-298-0655 during office hours – Monday through Friday from 8:30 am until 5:30 pm. If you need to contact the agency outside of business hours, use our 24/7 CSR hotline: 866-760-1442.
