While snow and ice on the roads are common winter hazards, another lesser-known threat associated with cold, snowy weather is ice dams. Ice dams form when warm air escapes from a home through an attic with inadequate insulation. This warm air heats the roof, causing snow to melt. The resulting water then flows down to the edge of the roof, where it remains cold.
Some of the snow runoff refreezes, trapping any remaining water underneath and pushing it back under the shingles. From there, the water moves into the attic and then to ceilings and interior walls, wreaking havoc along the way.
Signs of Ice Damming
Fortunately, several signs of ice damming are easy to spot. If you stay vigilant, you can catch the problem before it causes major damage to your roofing system.
Icicles
While icicles hanging from your home’s roofline or gutters may create a pretty picture, icicles of any size commonly indicate the presence of an ice dam.
Water or ice on soffits
The soffit is the underside of the overhanging part of your roof. Pay attention if you notice water dripping from or icicles forming on the soffits or soffit vents, as this is another sign of an ice dam.
Ice on the exterior of your home
Watch out for water dripping down the side of your house or ice forming directly under window frames.
A wall of ice
If an ice dam grows large enough, your gutters will fill with ice, and you’ll see what looks like a wall of ice forming over them.
Water is leaking into your home
If water starts entering your home through the ceilings, walls, or window sills, unfortunately, the ice dam wasn’t caught in time and has already begun to damage your home.
If you have an issue with ice dams and need the advice of an expert roofing contractor, don’t hesitate to give Muth & Roofing a call at (614) 882-0900. Our experienced roofers will take care of the problem so that ice dams are no longer one of your winter woes.