Come winter, we all have to deal with freezing weather, ice buildup, and snow. Our houses shelter us and bear the brunt of winter. Much of the house maintenance time during these cold months are focused on shoveling, however, your roof and gutters take on most of what winter has to offer. Ice dams are very common during these months and are a negative influence on your house’s health. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining off the roof. Ice dams usually build up within gutters, and can destroy said gutters, along with roofs. Ice dams also increase the likelihood of leaks, or even worse, the sheer weight of an ice buildup can increase the chances of a caved-in roof.
Your house is your largest investment and you shouldn’t have to worry about structural problems that can be caused due to the natural elements. With the winter season kicking off, here are four reasons why you should invest in ice dam prevention to protect your home:
- Ice dams cause gutters to fall
Gutters are necessary for keeping a house dry. Gutters work in the sense of collecting water, such as rain or melting snow, from your roof and transporting that water to the ground. In the winter time under ice and snow accumulation, the stress put on gutters from too much ice is enough to break them off. Ice dams intensify this stress, especially if they go untouched and continue to build up during the later winter.
- Ice dams ruin shingles
Since the temperatures of houses are drastically different from the outside air in the winter, Ice dams buildup up the house’s heat by melting ice on the roof which then flows down into the gutter and freezes again. This trapped water causes the roof always to be wet, drenching the shingles, and making them soft and not secure. Since shingles are the protection between the outside of your roof to the inside of your house, water will seep underneath the shingles, into the ceiling, causing evermore expensive internal house problems.
- Ice dams may destroy interiors
As previously mentioned, ice dams can create leakage which penetrates the ceiling, and pipes, eventually leading to water leaking on the floors, and the walls–in short, if ice dams aren’t professionally taken care of, the cost to fix the damage done is much more than that of a simple ice dam removal. Some damages caused by ice dams can range from $4,000 all the way to $20,000!
- Ice dams cause future issues in your house
Due to ice dams causing moisture buildup within your house, mildew and mold are common results that can be costly to your house’s long-term value and structural integrity. Mildew and mold can also be harmful to your and your family’s health. According to the Mayo Clinic, 93% of chronic sinus infections have been attributed to mold.
The best way to prevent ice dams is to contact professional roofing services to put in proper precautions before winter starts. During the winter months, if homeowners don’t prepare for ice dams before the snow starts falling, serious ice dam problems can occur. Luckily, Bristlewood Roofing & Remodeling specializes in the prevention of ice dams. We are industry professionals with many years of service under our belts and are rated “Central Ohio’s #1 Roofing & Remodeling Company”. Get a free consultation from us today.