Encompass Blog

What are ice dams and what causes them?

They might be picture worthy, but the icicles hanging from your gutters over time can cause damage to your home’s structural elements and insulation efficiency.

Ice dams are walls of ice that form at the end of your roof and hang from your gutters. The main cause of this is from snow melting at the heated, upper portions of your roof and refreezing towards the edges. Inefficient attic insulation can also play a large role in this problem.

Fixing the Problem

Here at Encompass, we had ice dams this year and what fixed the problem for us was to have a professional clear the snow from the ridge vent and all other vents on the roof. This allowed the attic heat to escape and slowed down the melting and re-freezing at the gutter line. We also had them remove as much snow and ice as possible at the gutter line to allow water to drain off the roof.

Be very careful and don’t get on the roof yourself! It’s dangerous and not worth the risk.

Preventing Ice Dams in the Future

The first step is to prevent warm air from rising into your attic. Properly installing drywall or plaster on your ceilings will provide enough of a barrier to seal off the rising air.

The second step is to upgrade your home’s insulation to modern standards. Many homes do not have insulation levels rated at R-49 which is recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy.

By combining the proper level of insulation with efficient air sealing, you can prevent ice damming.