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Ice Dams Explained
- By Micah Jefferson
- •
- 15 Mar, 2021
- •
What are ice dams? How do you get rid of them? And how do you prevent them?
With the latest storms, Ice Dams will begin to make an appearance again. They may be beautiful, but if you notice icicles gathered along your gutter and roofline it can spell disaster. Why? Their presence most likely indicates the presence of an ice dam. Read on to learn more about ice dams, how to get rid of them, and what you can do to prevent them.
What is an ice dam?
An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms along the edge of a roofline, preventing melting snow from draining (as water) off the roof. The snow on the roof will melt more quickly than the ice at the edge because of heat loss from the structure. For example, the warm air in an attic warms the roof and, over time, the snow begins to melt. This melting snow is now water, and it can back up behind the ice dam and eventually make its way into your home or office. If this happens, it can cause serious damage to your ceilings, walls, insulation, and any other surface it touches.
How to get rid of ice dams
There are basically two ways to approach ice dam removal: the quick fix and the slow melt.
Quick Fix
The fastest method is to chip away at the ice by breaking it into small chunks.
- Use a blunt mallet and tap lightly.
- Don’t use a sharp tool, such as an ax.
- Go slowly – pieces of shingle could break off along with the ice.
- Hire a professional, since this is dangerous work.
The Slow Melt
The slower method uses calcium chloride – NOT rock salt! – and time to melt the ice.
- Create a trough-maker by using a tube of cloth or the leg of panty hose.
- Tie one end tightly and fill the tube with the calcium chloride.
- Once full, tie the other end off.
- Lay the trough vertically along the ice dam and allow time for melting to occur.
Both methods can be tricky and dangerous for a homeowner. Remember, it’s best to hire an experienced professional so you don’t add further and unnecessary damage to your roof.
How to prevent ice dams
It’s far better to do all you can to prevent ice dams from forming in the first place. Here are some tips to consider.
- In late fall, make sure your gutters and downspouts are clear of debris. Again, this might be best done by a professional.
- Evaluate the insulation in your attic and upgrade or replace to prevent conduction and convection of heat through the ceiling.
- Consider venting the space between the insulation and roof sheathing, so that any escaping heat will be carried away.
- Seal all areas where warm air might leak from the attic into the area of the roof just below the sheathing.
If a winter storm caught you off-guard before you had time to address any of these preventative measures, you can still take action to prevent ice dam formation. Using a rake or a broom from the top of a ladder, sweep fallen snow away from the roof. Be careful – disturbing the snow at the edge can cause the snow further up the roof to slide down! Alternatively, snow can be removed by using a shovel to push it off. Both methods are dangerous and can pose threat of injury, so hire a professional to do the work.
Calendar these steps and start
preparing for potential ice dams long before winter arrives next year. When you do that, you can have
peace of mind even during the worst of storms. But don’t despair – even if
winter caught you unprepared, your local professional can take care of any
dams that have formed. Hiring a pro. like Restoration 1 of West Denver will be a small investment compared to the
cost of repairing damage created by an ice dam! Give us a call at 720-605-2994.
It’s that time of the year again – the weather turns cooler, especially at night, and we turn on our furnaces, add a space heater to the room, introduce extension cords and light our fireplaces. The truth is, there are numerous dangers in both the home and office settings that are initiated by cooler weather. What may seem innocent, could turn disastrous. Take a few minutes to act on these simple things you can do to avoid disasters – and rest more easily.
Problems With Furnaces. It’s been a while since the furnace has been operating consistently. Take the time to go through this checklist.
- Replace or clean your furnace filter. A new filter makes your furnace operate more efficiently, so replacing them even more often than recommended can’t hurt, and may save you money in the long run.
- Take some time to physically inspect your furnace. While furnaces are usually stored in out of the way places – closets, basements, or attics – these are also places where homeowners and business owners might store flammable items. So look carefully and make sure any paints or paint thinners, gasolines or even rags are not near your furnace.
- Schedule your Fall maintenance check. Your furnace should be cleaned and inspected every year. This is especially true if you have an older furnace. While newer furnaces are sometimes equipped with automatic shut off features if a problem is detected, your older furnace requires a physical inspection.
Space Heaters. Many families turn to space heaters as supplemental sources of heat. A few things that you should keep in mind:
- Make sure the outlet you are using to power the space heater is equipped to handle the appliance.
- Be sure to place the heater at least 3 feet from furniture, draperies and bedding.
- If you have pets or small children, do not leave a room without turning the heater off.
Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Monitors. We put both of these in the same category as they should be treated equally. Place carbon monoxide monitors and smoke detectors on every floor of your home or office. CO2 detectors are inexpensive and no installation is necessary. If there is a CO2 leak, which you will not smell since it is odorless, the detector will sound an alarm. Every furnace produces CO2, but a properly functioning furnace will safely exhaust it from your home. One quick reminder, some of the newer smoke alarms also function as carbon monoxide detectors, so you might want to find the paperwork on your alarms before purchasing separate carbon monoxide detectors.
Test your Fire and Smoke Detectors. The reminder comes to us every year around the time we are changing from Daylight Savings Time. But often, people forget. So consider this your second reminder.
Cooking Fires. Almost 25% of home fires are caused by cooking fires. It’s easy to turn on a burner and then get distracted. Be sure to keep any towels or drapes away from hot burners. Never leave something on the stove – the grease in an unattended frying pan can catch on fire easily. Turning the heat too high when you start to cook is also dangerous. You may be in a hurry, but smoke or grease can accumulate fast when you are frying or sauteing.
Fireplace Safety. If you have a log-burning fireplace, be sure to have the chimney swept every year. Soot and debris can collect in the chimney and become a fire hazard. Remind everyone to keep blankets, curtains, rugs and toys away from the fire. And never leave children or pets unattended around a fireplace.
Electrical Fires. Overloaded extension cords can be the biggest problem. Bad connections and faulty wiring can trigger a fire that can be lethal. Ten percent of home firms result from electrical equipment failures.
An Abundance Of Paper . Needless to say, paper is a huge contributor to both home and office fires. How you store your paperwork makes a difference. Be careful not to overload closets and garage spaces. And if you are around people who tend to keep paper in large quantities, consider hiring an expert who can help with decluttering.
The U.S. Fire Administration posts seasonal tips on preventing fires in home and offices. Reference their website occasionally to make sure you, your family and co-workers are safe.
One More Tip. Home Automation is an amazing industry right now. If you’ve had an alarm installed recently, you know how you can set controls using your smart phone. The same is true for protecting your safety. You can now get devices or phone apps that synch with your lights and/or locks to turn them on or off, call the fire department or unlock your front door for easy escape. Call your local Home Automation expert for more information.
Recent Blog Posts
It’s that time of the year again – the weather turns cooler, especially at night, and we turn on our furnaces, add a space heater to the room, introduce extension cords and light our fireplaces. The truth is, there are numerous dangers in both the home and office settings that are initiated by cooler weather. What may seem innocent, could turn disastrous. Take a few minutes to act on these simple things you can do to avoid disasters – and rest more easily.
Problems With Furnaces. It’s been a while since the furnace has been operating consistently. Take the time to go through this checklist.
- Replace or clean your furnace filter. A new filter makes your furnace operate more efficiently, so replacing them even more often than recommended can’t hurt, and may save you money in the long run.
- Take some time to physically inspect your furnace. While furnaces are usually stored in out of the way places – closets, basements, or attics – these are also places where homeowners and business owners might store flammable items. So look carefully and make sure any paints or paint thinners, gasolines or even rags are not near your furnace.
- Schedule your Fall maintenance check. Your furnace should be cleaned and inspected every year. This is especially true if you have an older furnace. While newer furnaces are sometimes equipped with automatic shut off features if a problem is detected, your older furnace requires a physical inspection.
Space Heaters. Many families turn to space heaters as supplemental sources of heat. A few things that you should keep in mind:
- Make sure the outlet you are using to power the space heater is equipped to handle the appliance.
- Be sure to place the heater at least 3 feet from furniture, draperies and bedding.
- If you have pets or small children, do not leave a room without turning the heater off.
Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Monitors. We put both of these in the same category as they should be treated equally. Place carbon monoxide monitors and smoke detectors on every floor of your home or office. CO2 detectors are inexpensive and no installation is necessary. If there is a CO2 leak, which you will not smell since it is odorless, the detector will sound an alarm. Every furnace produces CO2, but a properly functioning furnace will safely exhaust it from your home. One quick reminder, some of the newer smoke alarms also function as carbon monoxide detectors, so you might want to find the paperwork on your alarms before purchasing separate carbon monoxide detectors.
Test your Fire and Smoke Detectors. The reminder comes to us every year around the time we are changing from Daylight Savings Time. But often, people forget. So consider this your second reminder.
Cooking Fires. Almost 25% of home fires are caused by cooking fires. It’s easy to turn on a burner and then get distracted. Be sure to keep any towels or drapes away from hot burners. Never leave something on the stove – the grease in an unattended frying pan can catch on fire easily. Turning the heat too high when you start to cook is also dangerous. You may be in a hurry, but smoke or grease can accumulate fast when you are frying or sauteing.
Fireplace Safety. If you have a log-burning fireplace, be sure to have the chimney swept every year. Soot and debris can collect in the chimney and become a fire hazard. Remind everyone to keep blankets, curtains, rugs and toys away from the fire. And never leave children or pets unattended around a fireplace.
Electrical Fires. Overloaded extension cords can be the biggest problem. Bad connections and faulty wiring can trigger a fire that can be lethal. Ten percent of home firms result from electrical equipment failures.
An Abundance Of Paper . Needless to say, paper is a huge contributor to both home and office fires. How you store your paperwork makes a difference. Be careful not to overload closets and garage spaces. And if you are around people who tend to keep paper in large quantities, consider hiring an expert who can help with decluttering.
The U.S. Fire Administration posts seasonal tips on preventing fires in home and offices. Reference their website occasionally to make sure you, your family and co-workers are safe.
One More Tip. Home Automation is an amazing industry right now. If you’ve had an alarm installed recently, you know how you can set controls using your smart phone. The same is true for protecting your safety. You can now get devices or phone apps that synch with your lights and/or locks to turn them on or off, call the fire department or unlock your front door for easy escape. Call your local Home Automation expert for more information.
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