4 Tips for Ice Dam Prevention
When you have icicles hanging from your gutters in the winter, you may think they look pretty, but they’re actually posing damage to your roof and gutters. Icicles form off ice dams, which are snow and ice build-ups at the edge of your roof.
Ice dam prevention is very important during winter to protect your roof and gutters from serious damage. Below, Trinity Exteriors, Inc explains four tips for preventing ice dams from forming on your roof.
What are Ice Dams?
Ice dams are large mounds of ice that form at the edge of your roof. They are caused by a constant cycle of thawing and freezing during winter, particularly if you have a lot of snow. The warmth from the sun or warmth escaping through your attic can cause the snow on your roof to melt, which then refreezes as it moves down toward your gutters.
This build-up can break your gutters and damage your roof. They can also break, and chunks can fall onto the ground, posing potential safety hazards to you and your family. It’s vital to prevent ice dams and to get them removed if you do see one.
How to Prevent Ice Dams
There are a few ways you can take a proactive approach to prevent ice dams. Remember: when using a ladder to climb on your roof, make sure you have it set on a level spot, free from snow and ice, and that you have a spotter holding the ladder steady as you climb up.
1. Clean Your Gutters
If you keep your gutters free from debris, leaves, and twigs, then there is a place for melting snow to go rather than get caught up in your messy gutters and refreeze. If melting snow is able to drain away from your roof and home, then you’ll notice fewer ice dams forming.
2. Get a Snow Rake
Snow rakes are like shovels for your roof. If you get a lot of snow, you may want to purchase a snow rake to pull the snow off your roof a few feet up from your gutters. This will prevent the snow from melting on your roof. Make sure you always use a snow rake while standing on the ground and not on a ladder.
3. Ventilate Your Attic
Improper attic ventilation can cause ice dams to form. Allowing a natural outdoor airflow into your attic will help keep it cold and prevent snow from melting. Heat rises, so the warm air from your home can fill your attic and cause the snow to melt. Ventilating your attic will keep that warm air away and keep the roof cold.
4. Insulate Your Attic
Make sure you have proper attic insulation to keep the warm air from inside your home from escaping into your attic. You may want to contact a company like Trinity Exteriors, Inc to replace or add insulation to your attic, preventing ice dams and keeping your home warmer.
Consult the Professionals at Trinity Exteriors, Inc
Ice dam removal can be dangerous and is not recommended as a DIY project. If you have an ice dam on your roof, contact Trinity Exteriors, Inc to remove it professionally. Experienced contractors can remove ice dams without compromising the integrity of your roof and gutters.
If you need more information or need an ice dam removed, call us at 952-920-9520 or send us a message on our website.