Don't let an ice dam ruin your winter. Contact Feazel today for a free roof repair estimate.

As a homeowner that lives in a region with cold winters, it’s important to know how best to protect your home exterior from the worst of the weather. As a professional roofing company with over three decades of experience, Feazel can help with that knowledge.

There are plenty of elements your home will be up against year-round. In this article, we’ll be talking about ice dams, which are thick ridges of solid ice that form on the edges of your roof and gutter system. Specifically, we’ll be teaching you about: 

  • How Ice Dams Form
  • Ice Dam Prevention Tips
  • Ice Dam Removal Techniques 

Let’s dive in!

Why Do Ice Dams Form?

When the weather gets cold, you’re going to turn your heat on in your home. As your home interior heats up, the underside of your roof will be much warmer in contrast with the weather outside, allowing a lot of the snow and ice to melt off.

However, the edges of your roof won’t be touched by the heat inside, which causes ice to form in larger quantities along the eaves.

How Can You Get Rid of Ice Dams?

Ice dams can ruin your roof shingles, cause water to leak into your house, and tear off pieces of your gutter system. That means you'll have to worry about dealing with expensive roof repairs down the road. And that’s why it’s important to know how to get rid of them as quickly as possible. When going about this, you should be very careful not to damage your shingles or gutters.

Here are a few ways to get rid of ice dams on the roof safely:

  • Run Hot Water Over It
  • Install a Heat Cable
  • Remove All Excess Snow

If you don’t feel confident enough to remove an ice dam, get in touch with a local roofing company right away!

How Can You Prevent Them in the First Place?

Now you know a few ways to get rid of ice dams on roofs, but it’s also good to know how to prevent them in the first place. The best way to do this is to address the underlying issue. Your first reaction may be to blame bad gutters, but the truth is poor attic insulation is most likely the culprit.

The best ways to prevent ice dams long term include: 

  • Ventilating Your Roof Eaves & Ridges
  • Capping the Hatch in Your Attic
  • Adding More Insulation on the Attic Floor
  • Installing Flashing Around Your Chimney
  • Insulating Air Ducts
  • Sealing Any Holes/Leak Areas

…and more!

Get in Touch with Our Roofers to Learn More About Keeping Your Roof in Top Shape

Since 1988, Feazel has been handling all types of roofing projects throughout the Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, Indianapolis, and Raleigh areas. That said, you can count on us to provide stellar services that meet your wants and needs.

You can count on us for:

  • Roof Replacements
  • Roof Repairs
  • New Roof Installations
  • Chimney Protection Services
  • Commercial Roofing Care

Whether you want to learn more about keeping your roof in top shape, or you’re in need of service for your system now, you can reach out to our roofers whenever you need us. Either give us a call or use our online form to schedule a free consultation today.