Dealing with Ice Dams

Ice Dams Schrader and Company

Oh, winter in upstate New York!

It’s a treasure trove of weather possibilities. Everything from ice to snow to sleet to rain can and will befall us in the course of the season–sometimes all in one day.

This extreme weather impacts us on many levels, and it impacts our homes.

One of the true scourges of a northeastern winter is the phenomena of the ice dam, which can create expensive and far-reaching water damage to our roofs, ceilings and walls.

An ice dam is an ice build-up on the eaves of sloped roofs of heated buildings that results from melting snow under a snow pack reaching the eave and freezing there. Freezing at the eave impedes the drainage of meltwater, which adds to the ice dam and causes backup of the meltwater in a manner, which may cause water leakage into the roof and consequent damage to the building and its contents if the water leaks through the roof.

But ice dams are preventable, and we wanted to share some helpful tips with you from “This Old House” to help you stop an ice dam that has already formed, or better yet avoid a problem before it starts.

Armed with knowledge and know-how, you can protect your home from ice dams all winter long. And as always, feel free to reach out to us for help and advice anytime!