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Beautiful but Dangerous
By Dan Galvin
What is an ice dam?
An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of your roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. The snow on the roof melts from the heat escaping from inside your home or the sun beating down on your roof. When that happens, the water from the melting snow backs up behind the ice dam and leaks into your home. The water gets pushed up under the roof shingles where it will soak the insulation then the water will start to drip through the ceiling and eventually down through your walls and out your electrical outlets.
What causes ice dams?
The warmth from within the dormers, as well as sunshine, melts the snow from the dormer roofs and the upper roof. The water runs down the roof until it hits subfreezing air, like around the gutters, and icicles form. The gutters fill with ice and the ice just keeps getting larger and larger. You can tell the start of an ice dam from all the icicles hanging off the gutter on a house.
Oh those icicles! I can remember when I was a kid I used to love the icicles. Not only were they beautiful when the sun sparkled off of them, but the best part was you could break them off and use them for swords or spears. Those were the days. Ok, back to ice dams, once the icicle forms, the ice continues to build, both horizontally and vertically, then the water backs up under the shingles and that’s when all heck breaks loose.
Water entering the home from ice dams can lead to the growth of mold and mildew. These mold and mildews can cause respiratory problems. It’s really important that the growth of mold and mildew be prevented. This can be done by immediately drying out portions of the house that are wet or damp. Action needs to be taken to clean the home environment and maintain its air quality.
How do I prevent ice dams?
The first line of defense is to keep you gutters and down spouts clean and free of debris. You also need to make sure that your attic or roof is properly insulated. Installation of insulation, if not done properly, can cause more harm than good. Hire a professional to do this if you are unable or not sure how to do it properly.
Ice dams can cause serious damage to your home. East Coast Powerwashing Inc. uses steam to remove ice dams. Steam is the only method to safely remove ice without damaging your gutters. You do NOT want to use a hammer or axe because when you swing at something a hundred times, one of those swings is going to go deep into the roof.
So what do I do if I have water leaking from my electrical outlets and coming through the ceiling because of an ice dam?
Call East Coast Powerwashing, Inc. When ice dams are threatening your home or business, call us. We pride ourselves on our quick response. You need to hire a professional ice dam removal company like East Coast Powerwashing Inc. East Coast Powerwashing will help prevent further damage to your home and keep you and your family safe! You can rest assured knowing that East Coast Powerwashing Inc. will do a great job removing the ice dam from your home. East Coast Powerwashing Inc. is insured, and has trained their employees on ladder safety. Don't risk your peace of mind and home by hiring one of those fly by night companies you see on road signs or coupon clippers. Many of them are just trying to make some extra cash on the side and they usually don't have insurance or a Home Improvement License. Keep our number handy.
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