Ice Dams on Homes: Why They Form and What to Do About Them 11/11/2020 Share this article: Enjoy the picturesque icicles that come after winter snow and ice storms. But take them as a signal to prevent damage to the roof and gutters of your house. Icicles and ice dams form under the natural thawing and freezing cycles that follow winter snow storms. But while icicles add visual appeal, ice dams can be a hidden risk to the roof and gutters as well as the attic and interior walls. How Do Ice Dams Form? Ice dams are “thick ridges of solid ice that build up along the eaves,” according to homeowners website ThisOldHouse.com. Ice dams form because heat in the attic warms the roof but not the eaves. As the snow on the roof of a house melts, it runs down the roof where it hits the colder roof section above the eaves and freezes. Through one or more thaw-and-freeze cycles, the ice thickens in the gutter and backs up onto the roof. Then, additional snow melt on the warm roof gets caught under the shingles and seeps through the roof. The water drips inside the roof into the attic and down the interior walls of the house. The water damage that results from ice dams can be significant to roof, shingles and gutters and to attic insulation, contents and interior walls. Any significant snow accumulation on the roof can put a home at risk for ice dams. Real estate website HouseLogic points out: “The more snow, the larger the heat loss [into the attic from the house], and the longer the subfreezing temperatures remain, the higher the likelihood that ice dams will materialize.” How Can Homeowners Avoid Ice Dams? To reduce the risk of ice dams, here are prevention tips from ThisOldHouse.com: Use heated cables on the roof above the eaves and along the gutters and downspouts. Typically installed before the winter season in regions with significant snowfall, these can keep the snow melt from freezing. Use a “roof rake” – a long-handled upside-down scoop – during or after a snowfall to pull snow off the roof above the eaves. Over the long term, homeowners might need to have a contractor check the insulation of the attic and address any heat loss from the house into the attic. What Can Homeowners Do If Ice Dams Form? According to ThisOldHouse.com, there are three potential remedies homeowners can take if ice dams form: Use a roof rake to pull snow off the roof above the eaves. Deice the roof by placing ice melt crystals (such as calcium chloride, bundled up in nylon stockings or panty hose) perpendicular to the gutter and hanging over the gutter. Blow cold air into the attic with an attic fan or box fan. Homeowners might be tempted to use a ladder to reach or climb on the roof, then pull off snow or chip away at ice. But doing so can be risky given the snow and ice conditions on the ground and roof and in the gutters. And chipping away at ice can damage the gutters or shingles. Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Damages from Ice Dams? At Selective, homeowners policies typically cover damage to an insured’s dwelling that resulted from ice dams (under the coverage for “weight of ice and snow”). Homeowners coverage for the contents of the house (including items stored in the attic) damaged by either the weight of ice and snow or the resulting melting and leaking is available through Selective homeowners policies. To get coverage, contact one of our local independent agents. RELATED ARTICLES Ways to Avoid a House Fire The Dangers of Snowmelt and Flooding How to Keep Rodents from Entering Your Home CATEGORIES All Auto Business Flood Home © 2020 Selective Insurance Group, Inc. User Agreement Community Guidelines AdChoices CCPA Request Privacy Contact Visit our main web site at: selective.com or follow us: © 2020 Selective Ins. Group, Inc., Branchville, NJ. Products vary by jurisdiction, terms, and conditions and are provided by Selective Ins. Co. of America and its insurer affiliates. Details at selective.com/about/affiliated-insurers.aspx 94 Shares