Ice dams can severely damage homes if left untreated through Minnesota’s winters. If you are a Minnesota homeowner or property manager, you will want to know what an ice dam is and what you should do to prevent and remove it.
Ice dams occur when there is heavy snow followed by freezing temperatures repeatedly over several days and can wreak havoc on your home. This blog covers how ice dams form in more detail, how to identify them, the damage they can cause, ice dam prevention, and how to remove them if you already have one.
Do the signs below apply to your home? If so, you may need ice dam removal services offered by Minnesota Exteriors.
What is an Ice Dam?
An ice dam is a build-up of ice near the edge of a roof, which traps melting snow and keeps it from flowing off the roof or into the gutter. The water from the melting snow doesn’t have anywhere to go, so it begins to seep under the roof and into your home, leading to water damage. Once an ice dam forms, it may not melt until spring, so it must be removed to prevent damage.
Signs of an Ice Dam on Roof
You may see roof ice dams with snow on top of them or behind them further up the roof. Rain gutter ice dams are also common in northern climates. There are different signs that indicate you might have an ice dam on your roof or in your gutters. You can generally see them from the ground by surveying the roof, gutters, windows, and exterior sides of the house.
- Icicles hanging off the roof or gutters
- Ice blocks or ridges on the roof
- Ice in exterior roof vents
- Water around window frames or siding
Ice dams are one cause of winter roof leaks. Read our blog to learn more about preventing and managing roof leaks during the winter.
What Causes Ice Dams?
Ice dams are one of the many types of home damage caused by winter storms. Let’s explore what causes an ice dam on a roof.
When snow freezes overnight, it turns into ice. Then, heat from inside the house rises and melts some of the ice on the roof, but not the ice on the edge because it is closer to a cold surface. That water from the melting snow and ice gets stuck behind the ice dam. With nowhere else to go, the water starts making its way under the roof shingles. When it refreezes, it pushes the shingles up, damaging the roof enough to let water in. Water then seeps into the home, potentially damaging your ceiling, insulation, and walls.
This process doesn’t happen in one night but over days or weeks of winter weather. However, if there is any damage to your roof from previous winter storms, the water behind an ice dam may leak into the house sooner.
How to Avoid Ice Dams on Roofs and Gutters
Preventing ice damming is essential for protecting your home through Minnesota winters. How to prevent ice dams on roofs starts with care and attention to your home. Below is a checklist you can use to prevent ice dams before they form:
- Clean debris off your roof as soon as possible
- Make sure your attic insulation is rated at an R-value of at least R-38
- Ensure the attic is naturally ventilated so heat can escape
- Ensure your ceiling is airtight to minimize heat in the attic
- Rake heavy snow off the roof regularly before it freezes and turns to ice
Other optional things you can do include applying heated cables along the roof’s edges and adding extra insulation in your attic. What about how to prevent ice dams in gutters? Keep the gutters free of debris at all times and check them regularly to ensure they are functioning properly.
Don’t risk damage to your home; let MEI’s experienced team help with all your roofing needs.
Impacts of Ice Dams on Your Home
We focus so much on the prevention of ice dams because once formed, ice damming causes many different problems to your home and your and your family’s health. They can lead to real damage to your home that needs costly repairs, from damage to the roof to mold on the walls and ceiling. Below, we explore each impact of ice damming on roofs in more detail, along with solutions for homeowners and property managers who are dealing with them.
Water Leaks
Ice dams block water that is melting on the warmer parts of your roof from draining off. Instead, that water is pushed up and in between roof shingles. This leads to ice dams causing roof leaks. These leaks could start rotting the ceiling, walls, and insulation if left alone. This can harm the structural integrity of a home. Water stains in the attic, on the ceiling, or on interior walls are signs that water is leaking into your home. Any parts of the home with water damage should be repaired or replaced.
Health Effects
When water leaks into your home, it can sit in the ceiling, walls, and insulation, eventually causing mildew or mold. This can lead to respiratory and other health problems for anyone living in the home. There are many potential health impacts of mold and mildew.
- Difficulty breathing
- Persistent coughing
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Brain fog
- Eye irritation
If you notice moisture has entered your home, dry out the area immediately, sanitize it with bleach or another disinfectant, and find the water source so you can fully seal any leaks.
Roof Damage
As described above, ice dams can cause roof shingles to separate. The water leaking caused by ice dams can also damage roof sheathing. Too much damaged sheathing could lead to heat loss, compromise the structure of the home, and lead to roof collapse.
Any damaged shingles or sheathing should be replaced. Consider hiring professionals to replace your roof before minor issues turn into major problems. Minnesota Exteriors (MEI) provides free roof inspections to identify any damage and create a roof replacement plan for your home.
Gutter Damage
Ice can clog gutters and downspouts, preventing water flow, which can speed up the formation of ice dams. Once ice dams form, they are heavy, and their weight can warp, bend, or break your home’s gutters. In some cases, the gutter may get completely ripped off the house. The best way to avoid this is to purchase high-quality, durable gutters and have them installed by professionals. Gutters installed by MEI are made out of aluminum, which can withstand winter storms and will not shatter or crack in low temperatures.
Avoid the risk of trying to remove an ice dam on your own and hire Minnesota Exteriors for ice dam removal.
How to Eliminate Ice Dams
Some homeowners are unable to stop ice dams from forming. In those cases, the ice dams need to be removed as soon as possible. While the homeowner can do this with the right tools and knowledge, it’s best to hire a professional to ensure safety. Professionals have the tools necessary to safely remove all the snow and ice from your roof and gutters without causing any damage to your home or injury to themselves. MEI ice dam removal experts use a combination of steam or hot water to eliminate ice dams.
Hire a Professional for Help with Gutter and Roof Ice Dam Removal
We hope that now you can confidently answer the question of what an ice dam is on a roof and that you understand the importance of removing it as soon as possible before it causes damage. While ice dams can be scary, they are easily handled by professionals.
At MEI, we specialize in keeping Minnesotan homes protected through every season. If you have an ice dam problem on your roof or want a free inspection to prevent it before it starts, contact Minnesota Exteriors for support. We will thoroughly examine not only your roof and gutters but also your attic insulation and ventilation to address the underlying causes of ice dam formation.