Ice dams don’t just occur in streams or creeks when the weather turns cold; they can also occur on your roof, causing major damage to its structure. Here are some tips from the experienced roofers at Deegan Roofing, Siding & Gutter to help you prevent ice dams on your roof this winter.
Ice dams form when the ice at the top of your roof melts more quickly than the ice near the edges of your roof, due to temperature discrepancies in your attic. The ice from the peak of your roofline melts, and water runs down the roof to the edges where the roof is still cold, and re-freezes.
To prevent ice dams, you’ll need to make sure your roof is properly ventilated before the snowy season hits. The goal in ventilating your roof is to ensure that the entire roof, from peak to edge, has one uniform temperature. That way, if the temperatures are cold enough for snow, the snow will remain frozen, and if it’s warm enough to melt, all of the snow on the roof will melt and run off your roof through your gutters.
To effectively ventilate your attic, you’ll need vents that continually circulate cold air across the entire roof, including the peak and the edge. If you have a hatch on your roof, make sure to cap it for the winter. A lot of hot air can escape from there, causing the area around the hatch on the roof to heat up and melt nearby snow.
You should make sure your attic is properly insulated to keep the warm air inside your home from escaping through the roof. If you live in an old home that’s prone to ice dams, re-insulating the attic can make a big difference.
If you need professional assistance to prepare your roof for the winter, contact us at Deegan Roofing speak with an experienced roofer today.