The dreaded ice dam is the bane of homeowners during the wintertime. When the snow flies, the heat collected in the attic helps keep the roof warm. However, the eaves might remain cold. When that happens, ice builds up at the eaves, preventing snow melt from reaching the gutters. This can lead to water backing up under the shingles, causing serious leaks in your home.

Prevention of Ice Dams

An ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure. The damage done from ice dams can be expensive, but preventing them can be affordable. Prepare your roof before the snow flies with these ideas:

1. Seal all attic hatches and fans with weatherstripping to prevent heat loss.
2. Ridge vents and soffit vents can do wonders to keep the roof the same temperature as the eaves. There should be one square foot of opening for every 300 square feet of attic floor. Make sure the openings in the soffit and ridge vents are the same size.
3. More insulation will help keep heat in your house, where it belongs. Add ample insulation to your attic floor.
4. Make sure all vents from the house, including kitchen and bathroom vents, lead out of the house through the roof or walls, but not through the soffit. Double check every vent to make sure it is sealed properly.
5. Check the flashing around chimneys and add fire-proof sealant if there are any drafts.
6. Don't forget the joints on your HVAC ducts! Seal them well with duct tape to ensure no warm air escapes and heads up to the attic.
7. Go up to the attic and visually inspect it for any signs of sunlight coming through. If you see sunlight through the roof at any point, repair is needed. Replace shingles, caulk underneath, and do anything else necessary to seal off that area before the snow begins to melt.

When Ice Dams Happen

What happens if an ice dam forms on your roof, despite all your best efforts to avoid it? Get rid of that ice dam as quickly as you can by using a special roof rake, meant for removing debris from shingles without damaging them. If you have an active leak, try cooling things down to freeze the water. Place a box fan in your attic, aimed right at the leak. The additional cooling will freeze the water and give you a chance to clean the ice from your roof before more damage is done.