HOW DO THEY FORM?

The process for icicle formation is actually quite simple: heat is rising throughout your Home and through the roof, leading to snowmelt. As the water accumulates to the edge of your roof and to your gutter where it will re-freeze into icicles.

WHY ARE THEY A PROBLEM?

The problem breaks down into two parts: you’re losing your precious heat, and your roof and gutters can be damaged.

As heat rises throughout your home you don’t want to lose too much of it through the roof–there is an energy bill to consider, here! This is usually a sign that your roof and attic have poor insulation, resulting in a loss of heat. This doesn’t always apply to the whole top part of your house. They may form only in certain areas of the house and can be a guide for where to start your finding your solution.

As for your roof and gutters, you might find more obvious destruction from the buildup of icicles. When they become too heavy or too large, it could lead to more snow accumulation. Over time, your roof or gutters may not be able to hold up all the weight and fall apart as a result–and that’s just damage from snow.

As the snow melts, a lot of the water will also pool on your roof. Many homeowners experience the water seeping into their home, leading to further damage on their walls and the wood within them.

 

What Are the Dangers of Ice Dams?

The more snow and ice accumulate, and temperatures rise and fall, the larger the potential for ice dams. And ice dams can cause a lot of damage both inside and outside of your home. You may see damage on your roof and gutters and this may lead to meltwater getting into your ceiling or attic, says the Insurance Information Institute. Once that happens, insulation may get wet, paint may peel and the structure of your home may become damp, says Focus on Energy.

How to Remove Snow to Help Avoid an Ice Dam

It’s best to remove snow from a heavy snowfall immediately to help prevent the buildup of ice dams later. Though you might hear about people doing anything from using a snow blower to remove snow or an axe to help chip away at an already-formed ice dam, both methods may damage your roof. These methods may also be dangerous to your own personal safety, EnergyStar.gov warns.

A push broom with stiff bristles can be used to help remove snow off flat and low-slope roofs, while a roof rake can be the right option for sloped roofs, the National Weather Service says, because you can remain on the ground and still remove snow. Of course, you can also contact a professional to do the job.

In the event that an ice dam does form, the weather service suggests keeping the attic well ventilated — the colder the attic, the less melting and refreezing on your roof, the weather service says.

How to Help Prevent Ice Dams in the Future

According to This Old House, a simple way to help prevent ice dams is to keep your roof and eaves the same temperature. Here’s how:

  • Add extra insulation in your attic floor to help keep the warm air inside your home and out of the attic.
  • Relocate or remove heat sources (recessed lighting, for instance) in the attic directly under your roof.
  • Insulate attic access doors with a cover, or seal an existing hatch with weatherstripping.
  • Check the exhausts. Make sure all ducts from bathrooms, kitchens or other living areas exhaust to the outside, not the attic.
  • Check the flashing around the chimney. Over time, the flashing may crack and separate from the roof, causing hot air to potentially escape and allowing water to trickle in along the chimney. Have your chimney or roofing professional check the flashing and, if necessary, repair or replace it.

Preventive steps like these can help preserve the health of your home by stopping ice dams — and maybe even those icicles!

 

Tom Stachler is a Michigan licensed real estate Broker and Builder working in the Ann Arbor, Saline and Dexter Real Estate markets.  Please refer to the helpful Links above for more information about Buying or selling real estate, homes and condos when searching for one of the area's best real estate brokers.