During the winter, icicles hanging from your house may look pretty, but they can actually be very damaging. A mass of snow and icicles along the edge of a roof is what’s known as an ice dam. Ice dams are very heavy and cause melted water to gather under the shingles of a roof, eventually ruining its structure and causing severe damage to your home’s insulation, drywall, gutters, etc. To help you avoid ice dams this winter, the best roofer in Overland Park is going to discuss ice dam formation and prevention.
Formation of Ice Dams
According to Overland Park roofing companies, the first step in the creation of an ice dam is snow and below-freezing temperatures. Once this happens, an ice dam will form if the roof’s surface is above freezing near the top and below freezing near the bottom. Basically, this occurs when the indoor heat rises into the attic and warms the roof. This then causes the snow to melt and flow down until it reaches the lower part of the roof that is below freezing, where the melted water will refreeze and form an ice dam.
As the ice dam grows and accumulates, it eventually forms a blockage that prevents the melted snow from flowing off. When this occurs, the water begins to back up and leak into the attic – leading you to need emergency roof repair in Overland Park.
Ice Dam Prevention
To avoid needing a new roof in Overland Park because of ice dam damage, residential roofing contractors in Overland Park suggest checking your attic ventilation and insulation. Adequate ventilation and insulation will keep cold air outside where it belongs and prevent the warm air in your home from rising to the attic and melting the snow off your roof.
Another way to avoid ice dams is by zigzagging electric heat cables along the edge of your roof. This will help prevent any melted snow from refreezing along the eaves. The best way to avoid ice dams is by getting a roof inspection from an Overland Park roofing company. A proper inspection will ensure your roof is in excellent condition and allow you to take the necessary steps for roof repair in Overland Park if needed.