Ice Dam Problems And How You Can Deal With Them
The winter weather really takes a toll on your roof and as a homeowner, you know this is not good for your bank balance. In particular, if you live in colder regions of the country then you will be all too familiar with roof ice dam problems.
Let’s have a look at the most common roof ice dam problems and how you can solve them.
Icicles
While you may think that icicles look pretty, when they form on the edges of the roof they can become dangerous. Ice dams cause icicles to form and when they break and fall, they can cause serious damage to your vehicles or they can injure you.
Roof Leaks
Roof ice dam problems almost always cause leaks. As the dam is created on the edges of the roof, the water has nowhere to go, which means it ends up moving backwards underneath the shingles. This means that water can leak into your home and cause damage to your property.
Roof Damage
Of course, roof ice dam problems will also cause initial damage to your shingles. It can cause them to rot or break off, which means that you face costly repairs to get it fixed.
Collapsed Guttering
When ice dams form on the edge of the roof, they often crowd on the guttering. With the weight of the ice and the water behind it, this can put a strain on your guttering. This means that there is a risk of it collapsing or breaking off.
Home Damage
When ice dams leak through your roof, the damage to the inside of your home can be extensive. It can cause rotting and mold to appear, as well as damage your carpets and walls. A sure sign of damage caused by roof ice dams is peeling paint on your walls and dampness. Again, this is another problem that will cost you a lot of money to repair.
What Are Some Ice Dam Remedies?
So, let’s get on to the most important part; how you can prevent ice dams! One thing that these problems have in common is that they are all preventable. Roof ice dam problems can be stopped once and for all if you use the right techniques.
A lot of people look for a cheap and easy way to prevent ice dams. This is usually products bought in the store to melt the ice or a roof rake. While these may seem like quick solutions to your problem, they can actually be more hassle than it is worth. For example, you have to get up to the roof yourself to use them and this can be dangerous. In addition, they may help to remove snow and ice from your roof, but you have to do it every time there is a snow storm. If you live in a colder region of the country, you will know that you could be doing this almost every day. That is not exactly what you had planned!
There are also removal companies that can help you destroy ice dams. But, not only are they expensive and a reoccurring cost for your household, but they also deal with the problem once it has developed. What you need is something you can use to prevent roof ice dam problems in the first place.
The answer is a trace heat cable system like HotEdge. This lets you keep the surface of your roof consistent and at a hot temperature so that no snow or ice can form on your roof. The temperature encourages water to drain properly and ice dams simply cannot form on your roof. This works continuously on your roof, which means you don’t have to do a thing! That’s right; it is that easy to prevent ice dams coming back. So, what are you waiting for? Heat Trace cables are a cost effective and valuable investment for your home that will stop ice dams once and for all!
