Frozen icicles will be arranged along the eaves of most home roofs this winter. The frozen icicles will not be dropping to the ground nor staying on the roof decking. Although frozen icicles are known to add a sense of beauty to the home, they are also dangerous and are called ice dams.
An ice dam is a ridge of droopy, frozen glass-like ice that forms at the edge of roofs and prevents the total melting of snow. They are a blockage that prevents melted snow from falling off the roof, altering the flow of liquid and moisture, which can cause future roofing problems.
Here are 3 things you should know about ice dam situations in your area.
What causes ice dams?
The interior of your home is heated to ensure you stay warm in the winter. When evenly distributed, this heat transcends into the roof, and it melts the snow on the roof during winter. But when this heat unevenly dissipates, some parts of the snow melt properly while others remain frozen.
When the frozen parts trickle down to the rave or ridge of the roof and encounter no heat, it refreezes again, causing long glass-like snow that points downwards to form all around the roof. This is how an ice dam forms.
The idea is to make sure to treat ice dams holistically as soon as possible. If you do not treat ice dams and take care of them, it can cause a wide variety of severe issues to your house. If you are looking at ways to mitigate ice dams and need help with preventing ice dams, reach out to our professionals at HotEdge in Denver, Colorado, today.
We would be pleased to come out and assess your property while dealing with ice and water shield issues, flat roof-related problems and to provide ice melt solutions. Our team will present solutions that will keep your roof deck intact as well as preserve your interior walls.
What Are the Effects of an Ice dam?
The arrangement of needle-like glass-like icicles over your roof can cause injuries once it falls off. This is because its position is a hazard to the inhabitants of such homes.
The effects of ice dams are present below.
It obstructs the proper flow of liquid
Since the ice dam is arranged around the home’s ridges, there is no way melted snow can successfully pass through. This then redirects the water flow towards the creaks and openings on the roof, causing roof damage.
It weakens surrounding roof structures.
The icicles hold onto the shingles placed at the edge of the roof. This attachment causes them to weaken, which will eventually cause chirping, loose granules, and overall damage.
It Encourages Mold Growth
The freezing of the ice dam along your roof ridges redirects the flow of water into roof parts like sidewalls, wooden decking, and fascia boards, which encourages the growth of molds, mildew, and chirped roof paintings.
If you are looking for more help with how ice dams form and how to eliminate ice dams, reach out to our professionals at HotEdge today. We can advise on solutions from rock salt or other ice melt solutions that can impact your roof.
How to prevent ice dams
These are a few ways to prevent ice dam formation in the Denver, Colorado, area.
Rake Snow Beddings Regularly
As heavy snowfall begins, ensure you rake off snow from the roof using a snow rake or any feasible materials. Most snow rakes are long-handled aluminum metals with teeth. They can remove large snow beddings when they are dragged across repeatedly.
Snow raking can help remove heavy snow beds and provide a drastic change to the overall feel of the roof, preventing the formation of icicles.
Ensure the even flow of heat onto the roof
The major cause of ice dams is the uneven flow of heat on the roof. The solution is to provide even heat flow in the roof. There are several ways to establish an even heat supply.
Install heated cables
Heated cables are items that exhume heat; they are attached to the roof to provide heat that melts the snow.
To prevent the future formation of ice dams, install heated cables on the roof. It’s best to install them in a zig-zag motion creating up to 15 triangles. Run the other ends of the line down the roof gutters to help melt any ice blockage.
Note that heated cables do not require 24 hours of powering to melt snow and prevent ice dams.
Ventilate the roof eaves
The essence of ventilating roof eaves is to prevent warm air from condensing on cold surfaces. It helps promote the free supply of warm air and the removal of cold air. Proper eave ventilation can help prevent the formation of ice dams.
Seal the attic hatch
Insulation or dealing with the attic hatch helps in preventing the escape of heat to the atmosphere. However, if the attic hatch is vulnerable, the required heat to go to the roof escapes to the atmosphere causing an uneven heat supply.
Seal the attic hatch by installing new weather-stripping and insulating the hatch board with foam, fiberglass, cotton, or panels.
Redirect all heat exhaust to the roof
Heat exhaust that removes excess or waste heat from the home interior should be redirected towards the roof. This helps save the additional amount of heat needed to prevent icicles.
Install ice melting products before snowfall
Before winter, ensure the ice melting products are installed in a strategic place on the roof. Liquid ice melt should be poured all over the roof to ensure rapid defrosting, while socks filled with solid ice melts should be placed in certain parts of the roof.
Our professionals at HotEdge understand that removing snow and how ice builds on your property is important. We have experience dealing with heat loss matters, your gutter system, water shield matters, attic-related matters, and how they all can connect to melting water on your roof.
If you are looking for help with making sure to take the right actions to minimize ice dams from forming, work with our team at HotEdge today.
Work with HotEdge For To Mitigate Further Damage To Your Roof and Home
HotEdge® provides solutions that prevent ice dams and icicles from forming. Using a combination of different products, we’re able to cost-effectively prevent snow melt water from re-freezing on your roof to ensure ice dams and icicles do not have the opportunity to develop.
HotEdge® is the leader in the world in manufacturing accredited roof ice melt systems. We understand just how destructive ice dams and icicle formations can be to your roof and property. Contact us today!
