GATEWAY WEST & METRO EAST IL Blog

Preventing Ice Dams With Insulation in St. Louis

An ice dam is a winter phenomenon that can occur when an attic or home is not properly insulated. If not prevented, ice dams can destroy roofs, shingles, walls, and siding, racking up thousands of dollars in-home repairs come spring.

Keep reading to learn more about what ice dams are and how you can prevent them from happening to your home.

How do ice dams form?

Ice dams are created during the winter when the air is cold enough to freeze water into ice and snow. These typically occur when heated indoor air leaks into an unheated attic through cracks or insulation gaps. Once the warm air enters the attic, it creates warm spots on the roof and begins to melt any snow that may have accumulated on the roof. The melted snow then begins to run down the roof until it reaches another cool spot, often the eaves or gutters, where it refreezes into ice.

If not address, this process continues to occur where more water freezes on top of the previous ice and forms an ice dam. This dam continues to thicken until ice begins to build up not just on the eaves or gutters, but underneath the shingles. The expanding ice can crack the shingles and then allow the melted snow to penetrate the roof and seep into the walls and ceilings below.

How can you prevent ice dams?

While this phenomenon may seem frighteningly destructive, it is thankfully very preventable. The best way to prevent ice dams is to eliminate attic bypasses.

Attic bypasses, put simply, are areas in your home that allow heated indoor air to enter your attic. Most home builders do their best to prevent these during construction, but sometimes small areas are missed due to oversights.

How can I tell if my home is at risk for ice dams?

The best way to know for sure if your home is at risk for ice dams due to improper insulation is to consult with an insulation expert.

At Koala Insulation of Gateway West, our experts are well-versed in all kinds of attic insulation and ventilation. Our experts will arrive with state-of-the-art equipment to thoroughly inspect your attic or home and identify any areas in need of repair or improvement. They will provide a detailed assessment of the current conditions of your space and use their years of experience to design solutions that fit your home and budget.