Preventing Ice Dams

Preventing Ice Dams

Ice dams form when the snow melts off of your roof and refreezes near the edge. This happens when your roof is above freezing temperature, which is usually the result of a warm attic.

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  • In almost every home, heat escapes through ceilings into the attic and warms the roof directly above it.

The outdoor temperature may be below freezing, but a warm attic can melt the snow. The edge of your roof is not warmed by the attic, and so when the icemelt hits that area, it refreezes, creating a rim of ice. This chunk can grow, trap water behind it and suddenly you have an ice dam.

One easy way to prevent this is to keep your roof cold. This may seem obvious but impossible, so we’ve put together a few ways to best keep your roof from warming too rapidly.

1. Close up attic bypasses

One-third of the heat loss is through the ceiling into the attic of the average home. Most of that heat loss comes from air leaks caused by unblocked walls, gaps in drywall, cracks around light fixtures, plumbing pipes, chimneys and access hatches

Air leaks can be tough to stop, but not impossible. If you can plug the leaks under your attic insulation with foam, caulk, or other methods, it becomes fairly easy. Give us a call today to discuss how we can help you close up your attic bypasses.

2. Increase your attic insulation level

Your attic insulation should have 12 to 14 inches of fiberglass or cellulose. If you have less than 8 inches, you may have noticed ice dams in the past. Contact George’s Seamless Gutters to discuss installing new insulation in your attic.

3. Add roof and soffit vents

Attic vents draw in cold outdoor air and flush out warmer attic air, cooling the attic and the roof. Discuss adding roof and soffit vents with us today and we can work together to find the best style and size for your home.

Of course, a cold roof isn’t always the easiest solution. During winters with very heavy snowfall (remember that polar vortex?), you may still get ice dams, regardless. Some sections of your roof may even be impossible to keep cold. That’s when further strategies help to prevent ice dam damage.

Contact us at George’s Seamless Gutters to discuss your further options. We’ll always be realistic in your options and how we can help you eliminate the difficulties of ice dams and water damage.

Our Customers

  • “We had just moved to Rockland and our house needed a lot of work. Gutters were on the top of the list as the yard kept flooding. George's team came out the day we called offered solutions and even gave me options. He provided an estimate for each option and even suggested some cost-effective solutions to the drainage issues we had. We set a date for my repair and gutter installation the gutters were up fast. They work and look great! Thanks!”

    Tom B.,Gutter Installation - Rockland
  • “This gutter company is awsome. From my first call to the completion of the job they never were anything but professional and really very nice guys too-boot. Everyone on the team was courteous, professional, and the work they did was top quality. They cleaned up the job site and even helped clean some debris off my roof I could not have gotten to myself safely. I have already recommended George to a friend who also hired George.”

    Ellen P.,Gutter Installation - Rockland County
  • “Our new copper gutters look so great! I couldn't be more pleased. We even had some tricky parts of the house covered where other gutter companies kind of balked at the prospect George's gutter team came up with creative solutions to the gutter our entire modern house and handle our drainage. These guys are the best!”

    Mary P.,Gutter Installation - New City, Rockland County
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