Ice Dams Explained

3/1/2022 (Permalink)

Explaining Ice Dams

In much of the country, winter weather comes with myriad hazards. Ice is usually the most dangerous of these seasonal threats. That’s when ice dams can come in to play.

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms along the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining off. The heat inside the home then melts a large amount of snow turning it to water, but that water cannot drain off the roof because at the very edge of the roof is hardened snow and ice  (which cannot be reached by the heat inside). This results in the pooling of water, which then seeps into the roof and walls causing interior water damage.

The pooled water can also promote the growth of mildew and mold since it is usually the attic that gets the moisture from the ice dams, and attics are often perfect breeding grounds for mold. The best way to deal with ice dams is to prevent them from happening. You can do this by ensuring proper insulation. This will allow less heat to escape into an attic and prevent melting the snow on the roof. Otherwise, the best short-term action that can be taken is simply removing snow that accumulates on the roof, especially at the edges- but do so carefully.

If your home falls victim to an ice dam and there’s water damage involved- call SERVPRO of Bridgewater/Sharon. Our trained technicians have the experience and expertise to return your home back to its pre-water damaged condition.