Ice dams can occur for a variety of different reasons. There are some things you can do to help prevent these from occurring. The keys to preventing ice dams are making sure there is proper ventilation, maintenance, drainage, and insulation.
How to Prevent Ice Dams From Occurring:
- Make sure your gutters are clear of leaves and debris
- Check and seal places where warm air could leak from your house to the attic: vent pipes, exhaust fans, chimneys, attic hatches, and light fixtures are all possibilities
- Inspect your roof and attic to make sure there is proper ventilation and insulation
- Look for signs of poor attic ventilation: rust spots, rusty nails, wood discoloration or staining, or a mildew smell are all signs that moisture has formed on the inside of your roof
- If you have soffit vents in your eaves, make sure they are not clogged, so that air can flow easily
- Keep snow from accumulating on the lower three to six feet of your roof
- Install snow and ice slides to prevent ice and snow from “adhering” to the lower part of your roof
- Install a rubberized ice and water shield beneath the roof shingles for the first three to six feet from the eaves up
- Install heating cables along the eaves that can help melt the ice when it forms
How to Remove Ice Dams:
- Consult a roofing professional
- Do not use a snowblower, shovel or blowtorch to try to chip, break or melt ice dams
- Do not use a pressure washer as it can easily damage cold, brittle roofing materials. Steam is the fastest, most effective and safest way to remove these ice dams from your property.
If you do have ice dams forming, you will most likely have water damage too. Don’t try to take care of this yourself. You should seek help from certified and insured professionals like Expert Restoration of Utah. They can help you with assessing your water damage, help you prevent more water damage from occurring and prevent mold from growing. Don’t try to do water damage cleanup and mold removal on your own. Call Expert Restoration at 801-642-4347.
