Icicles may look pretty hanging along your eaves, but they are a sign of a serious problem. The same conditions that allow icicles to form also cause ice dams. Ice dams are thick ridges of ice that form along the edges of your roof and stop melting snow from draining away from your home. They can cause all kinds of problems, including water damage.
Ice dams are a common problem for homeowners and businesses in the Binghamton, New York, area. If you’re worried about ice dams, keep reading to find out how you can get rid of ice dams and stop them from coming back.
What Causes Ice Dams?
Ice dams happen when snow that’s accumulated on your roof melts and then refreezes along the edges of your roof. If the temperature of your roof isn’t uniform, snow will melt unevenly. As snow from warmer parts of the roof melts, it will flow toward the colder edges of the roof and refreeze, creating a blockage. As more snow melts and refreezes, the dam will grow, and water will start to back up behind it.
Ice Dams Can Cause Lasting Damage to Your Home
Ice dams and icicles can cause serious damage to the inside and outside of your home. Falling icicles can come crashing down on your gutters, deck, outdoor AC units, and even parked cars or people walking into and out of your home. This is a major safety concern and it can also lead to property damage.
The most common problem with ice dams, however, is water damage. When water is trapped by an ice dam, it’s unable to drain away from your roof safely. As a result, it will seep under your singles and back into your attic. This can lead to:
- Wet insulation
- Mold and mildew growth
- Stained and saggy ceilings
- Peeling paint
- Rotting and rusting building materials
Ice Dams Can Be Prevented with Attic Insulation
Insulating and air sealing your attic is the best way to stop ice dams on your roof. Attic insulation and air sealing stop heat from your living spaces from escaping through your attic and heating up your roof. Without heat from below causing snow to melt unevenly, ice dams won’t be able to form on your roof.
Adding insulation to your attic will lead to additional benefits, too, like better energy efficiency, improved home comfort, and lower energy costs. It’s one of the best improvements you can make to your home and will help keep you safe and comfortable for many winters to come.
An Energy Assessment Is the First Step toward Ice Dam Prevention
Insulation Man offers professional energy assessments to determine whether your home would benefit from an attic insulation upgrade. We use special tools to evaluate your attic insulation and look for air leaks so we can implement the most efficient and cost-effective solutions to stop ice dams from forming on your roof. We can also help you qualify for financing and incentives to make your attic insulation and air sealing project more affordable.
Insulation Man is a locally owned and operated insulation company in Binghamton, NY serving area homeowners since 1975. You can trust us to provide honest and high-quality attic insulation services to improve your home and prevent ice dams for good. Check out our case studies and customer testimonials to see how we’ve helped Binghamton homeowners like you upgrade their insulation.
