Ice dams can cause serious harm to your roof and your home when it is freezing cold outside.

 So how does an ice dam form?  Indoor heat rises through the ceiling of your house into the attic and warms the surface of the roof. Snow on the heated part of the roof melts and flows down until it reaches that part of the room that is below 32 degrees. Water freezes into an ice dam. The dam grows as it is fed by the melting snow above, but water held by the dam backs up and stays liquid. Eventually the water finds cracks in the roof covering and flows into the attic, from where it could seep through the ceiling and interior walls.   Did you know that water damage is the most common preventable cause of loss facing homeowners today? The Insurance Information Institute says it is important to protect yourself from potential damage.   You have seen them - large icicles along the roofline of a house during the winter. They may look pretty and festive for the season but it is actually a ridge of ice that forms along the edge of a room that prevents melting snow from draining off the roof.   What damage can be caused by an ice dam?

• Roof leaks
• Interior water damage
• Structural roof rot
• Water intrusion
• Saturated insulation
• Gutter damage

  So how do you prevent an ice dam before a winter storm hits?

• Clean your gutters before winter begins to allow a reduction or no potential snow or ice buildup.
• Keep your attic space cold.
• Properly seal exhaust ducts from bathrooms, kitchens and dryers to prevent hot air from leaking into the attic.
• Professionally insulate and vent attics to allow cold air to circulate under the roof.
• Keep your roof dry by installing a show shield or an ice melting system on the roof.
• Consider installing gutter heat tape if you can not install a snow shield as this allows a channel in the snow for water to escape.

  If you have this issue with your home, call a professional roofer to remove the snow to better protect the surface of your roof.   Keeping you protected,   Rick   All Access Insurance in Littleton, CO,  who represents multiple insurance companies as a “Broker” and provides products for auto, home,  commercial,  workers compensation, and much more!   Call us today for a free quote at (303) 932-1700