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Guide 10: Ice Dams

 

Many times homeowners experiencing water leakage and damage around exterior walls and ceilings during winter months think they have a faulty roof when actually the culprit is an ice dam. Ice dams are caused by melting snow. Attic heat rises to the highest point along the ridge line of the roof causing the snow cover to begin melting. As this melting snow runs down the roof surface below the snow, it reaches the cold areas of the roof along the edge or eave. As it arrives, the colder conditions at this low point of the roof cause the melted snow to freeze, thereby forming an ice dam. As further melted snow water arrives at the ice dam, it begins backing up. When it reaches a point of above freezing temperature, it remains a liquid and seeps in under the roofing materials and starts causing damage to the sheathing and the walls and ceilings below.

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