Don\u2019t you just love looking at glittering and shimmering icicles hanging from the edge of your roof after it snows?\u00a0 The problem is that icicles are in indication of a potentially damaging problem with your roof:\u00a0 ice dams.<\/p>\n
Ice dams form in gutters and along the roof\u2019s edge when melting snow trickles down the surface of the roof, only to refreeze when it is exposed to cold air at the edge. This forms a solid block of ice that can cause any following snowmelt to back up under your shingles and enter the home.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s bad. Water entering a home can \u201ctravel\u201d along rafters and walls to appear almost anyplace, damaging surfaces, causing wood to rot, and promoting the growth of mold and mildew.<\/p>\n
There are several steps you can take to help prevent the formation of ice dams:<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0Keep gutters clear of leaves and debris so water will not back up \u2022\u00a0Make sure your roof has an \u201cice barrier\u201d installed under the first several rows of shingles, tiles or slates \u2022\u00a0Properly insulate your attic to keep it cooler \u2013 a temperature balance between attic and the roof help to keep snow and ice from melting and refreezing into ice dams \u2022\u00a0Add roof ventilation to keep air flowing through your attic instead of building up under the roof deck where it can melt snow and ice<\/p>\n