| You may have noticed long icicles hanging from your | | | | flood.WARNING!Performing ice dam removal is risking |
| gutters and not realize the significance of the damage | | | | severe personal injury and damage to the roof if not |
| that may be occurring behind them. Icicles are usually | | | | done properly. Never walk on a snow covered roof |
| one of the first warning signs of possible ice dams on | | | | and make sure if your using a ladder you follow the |
| your roof. This article will explain what ice dams are, | | | | proper safety procedures. I highly suggest contacting |
| how they form and the best methods for removing | | | | professionals with the proper equipment and roofing |
| them safely.What is an ice dam?An ice dam is a wall | | | | experience to carry out this job.Immediate action: |
| of ice that forms at the edge of the roof, usually at the | | | | Remove snow and ice dam from the roof this will |
| gutters or soffit. When it forms the water then backs | | | | eliminate the main ingredients necessary for the |
| up behind the ice dam and creates a pool of water. | | | | formation of another ice dam and will usually stop the |
| This pool of water can leak into your home and cause | | | | water from coming in within an hour. Using a roof rake |
| damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other | | | | and push broom (not water) remove the snow by |
| areasWhat causes ice damsIce dams are usually | | | | carefully pulling it down the slope of the roof line. Never |
| caused by heavy snowfall and improper ventilation in | | | | pull snow across the roof or it may break off the |
| the attic. This causes warmer areas in your attic then | | | | shingles and other damages. Then carefully chip away |
| the snow begins to melt, even when the outside | | | | a channel through the ice dam so the water will be |
| temperature is well below freezing. When the | | | | able to flow through, just make sure you stop when |
| accumulated snow on your roof starts melting it runs | | | | you get close to the roofing. It's not necessary to |
| down your roof underneath the snow until it reaches a | | | | remove all of the ice in the gutters or the ice dam itself |
| "colder" section like the soffit's, valleys or in gutters | | | | if you have removed the snow from the roof, it will |
| then it begins to freeze again, this process of thawing | | | | melt when the temperatures rise.How can I prevent |
| and refreezing is what causes an ice dam.Cleaning the | | | | ice dams in the future?Properly ventilating and insulating |
| gutters on your home can help prevent ice dams from | | | | the attic is usually the best way to prevent ice dams. |
| occurring as quickly but they can still occur if the | | | | The usual recommendation for proper ventilation is 1 |
| conditions are right. The gutters will be just as cold as it | | | | square foot of vent for every 150 feet of attic floor |
| is outside and in some cases, full of frozen debris. So | | | | area but each climate region may have it's own |
| even if you don't have a soffit for the water to | | | | recommendations so I would suggest contacting a |
| refreeze in, the melted water will most likely refreeze | | | | licensed local insulation company near you. If you have |
| when flowing into the gutters.How can I remove an | | | | small louvered vents at either end of the attic known |
| existing ice dam?Properly removing an ice dam can be | | | | as gable vents you can either replace them with larger |
| quite dangerous if you don't know how. In the past | | | | vents, or install an electric vent fan over the inside of |
| some members of the media suggested hiring a | | | | them. These special fans usually work on a thermostat |
| contractor to pull the gutters off your home so the | | | | and will pull outside air into the attic to keep the |
| whole ice dam process would be solved. This | | | | temperature inside consistent.Henry's Housework is |
| suggestion was well intended but wrong. Contractors | | | | known as one of the leaders in the home maintenance |
| that started removing gutters caused significant | | | | and power washing industries. Henry's Housework has |
| damage to roofing and guttering systems, then when | | | | also helped train other companies across the country |
| the snow melted it dropped next to the homes | | | | in starting a business and teaching various skills so they |
| foundation and caused the basements to | | | | can provide quality workmanship. |