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Ice Dam
Removal Methods
Tips on How to Prevent and
Remove Ice Dams
By Mark J. Donovan
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Large and long icicles hanging from your roof eaves and
gutters are a sure sign of ice dams. Ice dams can put your home at high risk
of water damage. Ice dams form due to the melting of snow on the roof and
then the refreezing of the water as it nears the edge of the roof. As the
roof snow melt refreezes, it can back up and go underneath the bottom rows
of shingles. If there is no ice and water shield underneath the shingles,
the water will quickly find its way through cracks in the roof sheathing or
nails and into the attic area of your home.
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Once it enters you attic the water usually doesn’t stop there. It often finds
its way onto you drywall ceilings and walls. In some cases it can even find its
way into recessed ceiling lighting. If left unchecked the water can cause damage
to the home and promote mold and mildew growth.
At the root of all ice dams is inadequate ventilation and insulation in the
attic. Two ways to prevent ice dams is to make sure there is enough attic
insulation, at least R39 level, and that there are sufficient soffit and ridge
or gable end vents.
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The attic insulation helps prevent warm moist air from entering the attic,
and the attic vents help to quickly vent any of the warm air that does get into
the attic out into the atmosphere. By keeping the attic cold, snow sitting on
the roof will not melt from the underside, and thus will prevent the formation
of ice dams.
The best bet to preventing ice dams, without adding insulation and better
ventilation, is to remove as much snow from the roof as possible, without
hurting or killing yourself.
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A roof snow rake is much safer than using a ladder and shovel on a snowy
roof. If you remove the snow on the roof then ice dams will not form.
If you have ice dams already formed on the roof, then again remove as much of
the snow on the roof as possible. Then use ice melt socks, and place them
perpendicular to the roof line every 5 to 10 feet. The ice melt socks are nylon
stockings filled with ice melt. They will melt troughs in the ice dams so that
any additional water will flow off the roof and thus prevent any additional
build up of ice dams.
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