Ice Damming
Information
ICE DAMMING
Warm areas meeting cold areas on a house cause frozen gutters and frozen roof
edges.
Houses that are having ice-damming problems need to determine the source
first.
There are several problem areas which can cause this condition. 
The heat loss coming from the interior of the home’s roof line can be caused by
the following; poor attic insulation, bay windows with little or no
insulation above them, cathedral ceilings, sky lights and rooms with above
average temperatures. All of these
conditions can contribute to an artificial melt down when the temperature
outside is below freezing. After a snowfall the roof is covered with a blanket
of snow, and so are the gutters.
At this point the gutters and the roof overhang are the cold zone.
Artificial heat loss coming from under the snow starts to melt a layer of snow
on the roof. Water tries to make its way to the gutter by following the pitch of
the roof. Once it is in the eave
area of the roof it starts to freeze over again because there is no heat in that
area. The ice starts to build on
the roof, in and on top of the gutters.
This is called ice damming. The water cannot be released from the gutter and
leader system because they are frozen.
Houses with lower roof pitches, small overhangs or none at all are most
susceptible to ice damming and water entering the home.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP PREVENT OR CONTROL ICE DAMMING?
-
Before winter, have the gutters cleaned.
-
The most effective product on the market today for ice damming is ice
shield. This is a roll of adhesive roofing applied to the wood sheeting of
the house at the eaves edge, and run up the roof 36 inches.
To be effective the ice shield should
over lap the wood fascia and it should be put behind the gutter system. In
some cases with a lower pitch on the roof it is recommended that the ice
shield be doubled to 72 inches.
-
A heat cable system can also be used to help control ice damming. It is laid on the roof and into the gutter and leader system. This product allows water to flow through the gutter system. This product is
used mainly in areas of the home that are most affected by ice damming.
Remember there are many scenarios at work in the
long cold winter months. Many factors must be evaluated in order to protect your
home from winter damage. The
temperatures outside coupled with the heat loss from inside the home, as well as
the distance water has to travel to the nearest leader.
An evaluation by a home improvement professional is the best solution for
providing you and your family with a warm, affordable and comfortable winter
home.
<< Back to service
list
|