Watch Out for Ice Dams

With winter taking hold in Northeast Oklahoma, beware of ice dams on your home's roof when it snows and temperatures drop below freezing for extended periods. An ice dam forming on the roof can result in water damage to roofing, walls and attic, along with household belongings.

What is an Ice Dam?

While relatively uncommon in Oklahoma, which doesn't get as much snow or extended freezing as states to the north, ice dams can happen here. They usually result when roof temperatures are not consistent. When snow falls on the higher part of the roof, it melts and begins draining down toward the eaves. Often, those lower sections are colder, since there's less attic space underneath to warm up the roof.This re-freezes the melted snow, which builds into a ridge of ice near the edge of the roof. Snow melt accumulates behind the so-called "ice dam," and eventually finds its way through the shingles and roof. This can wreak havoc on roofing, walls and attic fixtures, as well as personal items in the attic.

How to Avoid Ice Dams

The main goal is to prevent heat from transferring through the roof and causing the snow to melt. Effective air sealing, insulation and ventilation all can accomplish this goal. It's important to insulate and seal air leaks in the roof, of course, but also in the floor between the attic and the home's lower levels, along with the attic hatch or door. This will help keep heat in your living spaces, enhancing comfort, saving energy and easing the workload of your heating system. A well-ventilated attic also will help prevent heat buildup.You'll also want to make sure that air ducts aren't leaking warm air into the attic.If you take these steps to prevent ice dams, you will reap a bonus in the summer as well. A properly sealed, insulated and ventilated attic helps with household cooling, preventing the attic from over-heating and transferring that heat downward.

For more advice on how to prevent ice dams in your Broken Arrow-area home, please contact us at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ice dams and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “qimono/Pixabay”

Ice Dams: Here's How To Prevent Them

While heating and insulation keep you protected from ice and cold in winter in your Broken Arrow home, winter conditions outdoors could lead to an ice disaster.Ice dams -- thick ridges of ice built up along a roof's eaves -- can rip off gutters and pull shingles loose on a roof, causing melted snow to back up into the house. This can cause paint to peel and floors to warp, while also resulting in stained, sagging ceilings and damp insulation.

How Does an Ice Dam Start?

Heat collected in the attic warms the roof, but not at the eaves. Snow then melts on the warmed roof, freezing on the eaves. Ice forms along the eaves, creating a dam. Melted water from the roof gets backed up behind the dam, seeps under the shingles and enters the house.Don't try to chop ice dams with hammers, chisels or shovels. It is dangerous and can hurt roofing. Throwing salt on dams is ineffective and can harm plantings.Here are some methods for dealing with ice dams:

• Place a box fan in the attic and blow in cold air, aiming at the underside of the roof where water is leaking in.

• Rake snow from the roof with an aluminum roof rake with a long handle that can be safely used from the ground. A roof rake can damage roofing materials, so be careful. Do not work on the roof itself, as this risks personal injury and damage to the roof and house. Leave this work to professionals.

• In an emergency where water is pouring into the house, hose down the roof on a warm day to make channels through the ice dam so water can drain temporarily. Start at the lower edge of the ice dam and work upward.

In the long term, make sure ceilings are air-tight to avoid warm, moist air entering attic space from other areas of the house. Another long-term solution is to increase roof insulation to curb heat loss by conduction.For more on ice dams and other winter topics, feel free to contact us at Air Assurance. We've served the Broken Arrow area since 1985.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Ice Dams: Take Preventive Measures To Keep Them From Forming

Ice dams can occur in almost any climate, but they're more likely to happen in colder climates like Oklahoma’s. There are preventive measures homeowners can take to keep ice dams in check and avoid costly damage to roofs.When temperatures rise during the winter, most Broken Arrow residents are happy to strip off cumbersome jackets and enjoy the warmth of the sunshine. But it is often these conditions that lead to dangerous ice dams. So just how do ice dams form?First, temperatures must be cold enough to produce freezing conditions that lead to the formation of ice on the roof. A long or large snowfall could also cause snow to accumulate on the roof. Then two things can happen:

• A warm weather system moves in, and the warm air starts to melt the snow and ice that’s gathered on the roof.

• Warm air from your home rises up into the attic space and warms up the room, which causes the ice and snow to begin melting.

The ice and snow then drains in the form of water, dripping underneath the snow and ice, and down to the overhang where your home’s eaves are located. Since the eaves are still cold, the water refreezes and creates what is known as an "ice dam." As the water builds up around this “dam,” it can seep back into the attic and even extend into the home.There are several steps you can take to prevent ice dams from forming:

• Have a contractor evaluate your roof.

• Seal air leaks in the attic space, especially those that exist between the attic and the home.

• Increase the effectiveness of attic insulation to stop the movement of heat between the attic ceiling and the out of doors.

• Use a ventilation system in the attic to maintain a consistent temperature between the roof and the outside.

If you’d like expert help with ice dam prevention and creating an efficient and durable attic, or if you have other heating and cooling questions, contact Air Assurance today! For over 30 years, we’ve proudly served homeowners in the Greater Broken Arrow area.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to get started today!     Preventative Maintenance image via Shutterstock