Ice Dams
Home Improvement Services Serving Clinton County MI
Is Your Roof at Risk of Ice Dams?
When winter hits, the last thing you need to worry about is hidden roof damage caused by ice dams. These icy ridges may look harmless, but they can lead to costly water damage inside your home. Understanding how ice dams form—and how to prevent them—can save you from major repair bills and headaches down the road. So, what exactly are ice dams, and why do they form?
What is an Ice Dam?
An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms along the edge of a roof, preventing melting snow from draining off. While most common along roof edges, ice dams can also develop around skylights, vents, or where roof slopes meet in valleys.
Ice dams usually occur due to poor insulation and insufficient ventilation in the attic. These conditions allow indoor heat to warm the roof deck, melting the snow above it. The melted snow flows down the roof until it reaches a colder area, usually below 32°F, where it refreezes. As this process continues, the ice dam grows, blocking further drainage. The trapped water can seep under shingles and leak into the building, potentially damaging walls, ceilings, insulation, and other internal structures.
How an Ice Dam Forms
Here’s a step-by-step explanation of how ice dams form on your roof:
1. Heat Escapes
Warm air from your home rises through the ceiling into the attic, warming the roof deck from below. This heat transfer warms the shingles.
2. Snow Melts and Flows Downward
Snow on the warmed sections of the roof begins to melt, and the water flows downward until it reaches a colder part of the roof, usually the overhangs, where it refreezes.
3. Ice Dam Forms
As more snow melts and refreezes at the colder section of the roof, an ice dam begins to form and grow. Water starts to pool behind this icy barrier.
4. Water Intrusion
Eventually, this trapped water may find its way through the shingles and roof deck, seeping into the attic. From there, it can penetrate the ceiling and walls, causing damage to interior structures.
Protecting Your Home from Ice Dams
Proper insulation and attic ventilation are essential to reduce the risk of ice dams. Ensuring that the roof temperature remains even, without warm patches that cause snow to melt unevenly, can help prevent ice dams from forming in the first place.
For more information on preventing ice dams or addressing potential issues, call RSI Home Improvement at (989) 224-3691.
Primary Communities Served
Bath
Carson City
Clinton County
DeWitt
East Lansing
Elsie
Fowler
Grand Ledge
Haslett
Holt
Ionia
Laingsburg
Lansing
Maple Rapids
Mason
Mid Michigan
Okemos
Ovid
Owosso
Pewamo
Portland
St. Johns
Westphalia
Williamston