Roof Ice Dams? What?? How to prevent them.
While the official winter season has yet to begin, the temperatures outside certainly feel like it has! We are getting ready to ramp up for this chilly time of year, and it is important to make sure your home is ready to handle the winter weather.
This includes preventing ice dams from forming on your roof! Your Koala Insulation of Northwest Pennsylvania team explains all about the threat of ice dams below.
How Ice Dams Form
Ice dams are created when the snow from your roof melts and runs down, but then refreezes on the edge of your roof. When this happens over and over throughout the season, ice builds up and an ice dam appears. While it may not look very ominous from the outside, ice dams can severely damage the roof of your home.
If it gets thick enough, the ice dam can back up under your shingles and into your attic. Once inside, it can melt and leak down your walls and into the living areas of your home. In addition to structural damage, water damage and mold growth are all possibilities.
Steps to Prevent Ice Dams
Typically, ice dams form because there is an uneven temperature inside your attic. If the attic is not properly insulated, the cold spots will keep the snow from melting, but the warm spots will melt it and then the water will refreeze as it hits your un-insulated roof edge.
The best way to prevent ice dams from forming is to control the temperature in your attic! Make sure all the nooks and crannies are properly insulated, and consider installing another air vent to keep the air continually circulating within that space.
Keep Snow Off of Your Roof
Another important task to stay on top of is to remove the snow off of your roof. If there is no standing water, it can’t build up over time!
Try to do this after any significant snow fall. Invest in a long snow rake and pull the snow off of the bottom half of your roof.
If you need help deciding what insulation is the best choice for your attic space, we can help! We can also air seal your windows and doors to make sure your home’s heat doesn’t escape too quickly. At Koala Insulation of Northwest Pennsylvania, we are always here for you and your home's needs.
The best way to prevent roof damage from ice dams is to be proactive! Contact us at Koala Insulation of Northwest Pennsylvania to get a jumpstart on your next insulation project.
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We Provide Insulation Services to the Following Northwest Pennsylvania Areas
BUTLER, BOYERS, BRUIN, CABOT, CALLERY, CHICORA, CONNOQUENESSING, EAST BUTLER, EAU CLAIRE, EVANS CITY, FENELTON, HARMONY, HARRISVILLE, HILLIARDS, KARNS CITY, LYNDORA, PARKER, PETROLIA, PORTERSVILLE, PROSPECT, RENFREW, SARVER, SAXONBURG, SLIPPERY ROCK, WEST SUNBURY, GROVE CITY, JACKSON CENTER, MERCER, SHARON, HERMITAGE, STONEBORO, CALLENSBURG, POLK, CLINTONVILLE, EMLENTON, KENNERDELL, BEAVER, BEAVER FALLS, CONWAY, FREEDOM, INDUSTRY, MIDLAND, MONACA, NEW BRIGHTON, ROCHESTER, ZELIENOPLE, NEW CASTLE, BESSEMER, DARLINGTON, EDINBURG, ELLWOOD CITY, ENON VALLEY, FARRELL, FOMBELL, HILLSVILLE, KOPPEL, NEW GALILEE, NEW WILMINGTON, PULASKI, VOLANT, WAMPUM, WEST MIDDLESEX, WEST PITTSBURG, WHEATLAND, BAIRDFORD, BAKERSTOWN, BRADFORDWOODS, GIBSONIA, WARRENDALE, WEXFORD, ALLISON PARK, GLENSHAW, INGOMAR, PITTSBURGH, MARS, VALENCIA, CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP
Counties Served
BUTLER, CLARION, MERCER, VENANGO, BEAVER, LAWRENCE, ALLEGHENY
Zip Code
16001, 16002, 16020, 16022, 16023, 16024, 16025, 16027, 16029, 16030, 16033, 16034, 16037, 16038, 16040, 16041, 16045, 16049, 16050, 16051, 16052, 16053, 16055, 16056, 16057, 16061, 16127, 16133, 16137, 16146, 16148, 16153, 16213, 16342, 16372, 16373, 16374, 15009, 15010, 15027, 15042, 15052, 15059, 15061, 15066, 15074, 16063, 16101, 16102, 16105, 16112, 16115, 16116, 16117, 16120, 16121, 16123, 16132, 16136, 16141, 16142, 16143, 16156, 16157, 16159, 16160, 16161, 16172, 15006, 15007, 15015, 15044, 15086, 15090, 15095, 15101, 15116, 15127, 15229, 15237, 16046, 16059, 16066
