How Ice Dams Form And How To Prevent Them?

Ice dams are a common sight for homeowners in snowy, cold winter settings. An ice dam is a collection of ice that forms along the lower edge of a roofline and overhangs the home’s edge. Ice dams can weigh hundreds of pounds, jeopardizing the roof eaves’ structural integrity. Ice dams can cause meltwater to back up beneath the shingles, causing it to pour down and destroy ceiling and wall surfaces. 

You can use ice melter for new concrete. Ice dams can cause damage to your roof, gutters, paint, insulation, internal walls, and other surfaces .Ice dams can be perplexing to the untrained, since one house may be laden with massive blocks of ice heavily covering the roof eaves, while adjacent homes have simply a dazzling coating of snow over the shingles and no traces of ice.

When the snow melts on the top, warmer part of a roof, it runs down to the cooler eave overhang. It refreezes. As a result, it forms ice dams. As the ice builds up, it creates an obstruction. It prevents more snowmelt from draining off the roof. The ice begins to build up behind the roof shingles, where it melts and soaks the roof sheathing, allowing water to pour into the attic. It soaks up the insulation there. It could now seep into your living area via the drywall below the ceiling.

Large ice dams can be very heavy, damaging gutters and possibly posing a safety concern to persons below, in addition to the internal water damage they produce.

The water travels down the roofline as the warm air beneath the roof heats the shingles, and melts the snow on the roof. Until it reaches the overhanging eave structure and refreezes. Because of the insulating characteristics of snow, ice dams generally form or intensify after a significant snowfall. Warm air is trapped beneath the snow cover, causing it to melt. Safe Paw reviews are very positive. It is salt-free and harmless, environment-friendly, and safe for pets.

Prevention

Under-the-roof-deck ventilation keeps cooler outside air circulating through the attic, preventing it from warming over the freezing point and melting snow on the roof.

Block any heat sources that could be contributing to the attic’s excessive temperatures.

Keep gutters free of debris. Remove all of the fallen leaves before the winter arrives. Make sure your downspouts are working correctly as well. If the gutters are clogged, the melting snow has nowhere to go.

Apply an ice melter for new concrete. If an ice dam is forming, you can use a salt-free ice melt. Safe Paw reviews are good. It is a non-toxic and salt-free ice melt.

Final Words

Opening up a channel may be enough to allow extra meltwater to flow off the roof. Thus, removing the complete ice dam is usually not necessary. However, the ice will quickly build up and block the channel you’ve carved. This procedure will require repeated work.

Gaia Enterprises Inc. delivers 100% pet-safe and environmentally friendly winter products. Safe Paw, our flagship product, is the #1 selling pet-safe ice melt that does not harm pets, safe if ingested, and safe on all types of concrete.

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