With winter in full swing in New England, it is important to keep your roof clear of ice and snow in order to help protect it from ice dams. Ice dams form as the snow melts from your roof and the water runs down your shingles. Eventually, this water will reach the eaves of your roof, as well as your gutter system, where it will refreeze. This process happens repeatedly until the ice dam is so large that water begins to back up unto your shingle system. When the water is held over your roof, it is continuously heated by your home, which prevents the water from freezing. Eventually, this water will be able to seep its way into your roof deck where it can cause serious damage! If you’re interested in learning more about how you can prevent ice dams from occurring on your home, or remove them if they do, keep reading below for more information!
How To Prevent Ice Dams
When it comes to preventing ice dams, there are a few different methods to consider. All of these methods center around cooling down your home’s roof and minimizing attic heat loss. The first thing you should do is try to insulate your attic as much as possible. If you can stop heat from escaping into your roof it will considerably reduce the amount of snowmelt that occurs on your roof, as this is one of the biggest contributors!
In addition to minimizing attic heat loss, you should also add ventilation to your attic. If you can keep the temperature in your attic close to the same temperature as the weather outside, it will stop the snow from melting on your roof. Add ventilation in your soffits to help reduce the temperature difference between your attic and the outdoors, and it will help prevent the snow on your roof from melting unless it’s warm enough outside!
How To Remove Ice Dams
If it’s too late to get prevent ice dams from forming on your home, you have a few different options for trying to remove them. The first choice is to try to use calcium chloride to try to melt the ice off of your roof before it has had a chance to really build up.
However, if you have large ice damn build-ups, you may need to steam them off of your roof. You’ll need to find a contractor who has a steaming machine, which gently removes the ice dams from your roof & gutter system without damaging your home!
Contact Us Today
If you’re interested in learning more about our roofing services, reach out to our team at North Shore Window & Siding today by calling us at (617) 628-7204 or by filling out our team’s online contact form!
