Ice Dam 101

Posted by dbccompany on Feb 25th, 2014 | no comments

What is an ice dam?

Ice dams are a build-up of ice that forms over eaves and gutters, caused by snow  melting on the roof. Once an ice dam has formed, it will continue to trap melted snow above, where it can back up under the shingles and leak into your home.

Its usually fairly easy to see ice dams, but not always. Sometimes smaller ice dams can form in areas not visible from the ground, such as in valleys where different areas of the roof intersect.

What causes ice dams?

Ice dams are a common winter time problem that most homeowners encounter. Their formation happens in four steps:

1. Snow accumulates on your rooftop as the result of one or more winter storms.

2. The snow begins to melt due to both solar heat from above and home heat loss from beneath.

3. Melted snow trickles down to the surface of the roof where it settles along colder valleys, overhangs, and gutter lines.

4. When temperatures dip below freezing again, this snow melt refreezes, forming  dams of ice.

What to do if you have an ice dam?

Once a house or apartment building has ice dams, the short-term solutions have the potential to damage the roof and/or injure the homeowner. Working on or below a roof during winter is dangerous. Chopping the ice or using a roof rake to remove  snow can damage the roof. If you have ice buildup along the roof edge or are experiencing water leaking into your home from what you suspect to be an ice dam, don’t delay, call DBC Company today! We have somebody available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will get work crews to your house to perform the necessary actions that will nip water and roof damage in the bud.

Our 24 hour toll-free hotline is:

877-598-9600

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What can be done to prevent ice damming?

A: The only way to prevent against ice damming is to get ice and water shield put down when having your roof redone. Proper attic insulation does help-but the most conclusive preventative measure is having ice and water shield applied under your shingles.

Q: My roof has ice dams and is leaking. Was my roof improperly installed?

A: No. Ice dams, or interior leaks caused by ice dams, do not mean that your roof is new or old / installed correctly or incorrectly / or in need of replacement.  Virtually any shingle roof can leak if water is not allowed to drain off in a relatively efficient manner.  Shingle roofs must shed water quickly as they are not designed to hold water.

Q: Does my homeowner’s insurance cover ice and snow removal or interior damage from leakage due to ice dams?

A: Some insurance companies may cover these damages.  You should check with your  insurance company regarding ice and snow damage and removal.  (Don’t forget to check your deductible.)

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