Winter is one of the most talked-about seasons in every household. The cold weather can take its toll on your home if you are not prepared. The good news is there are lots of things you can do to gear up for winter. We discuss one of the most common and destructive issues during winter – ice dams. Find out how ice dams form, what damage they cause, and which steps you should take for prevention.
What Are Ice Dams?
In winter, you could experience ridges of ice forming at the edge of your roof. These are ice dams, which form due to varying temperatures on a roof. For an ice dam to develop, there must be snow cover on the roof, heat loss from the attic, and the outside temperature must be below freezing. The warm interior air heats the roof, causing snow to melt and run down the roof. A dam of ice develops as the snowmelt refreezes along the cold eaves. As more snow continues to melt above the dam, the ice grows thicker, making it more difficult for water to pass through your gutters.
How Do Ice Dams Damage Your Home?
When water builds up behind an ice dam with no way of escape, it will then seep under shingles and penetrate into holes and cracks in the exterior walls, attic and other areas, causing major water damage. The weight of ice dams can also damage your gutters and down spouts in Bohemia, New York.
What Should You Do to Reduce Ice Dam Formation?
One way to deal with ice dams is by installing Helmet Heat®. This product from Gutter Helmet® of Long Island prevents snow and ice build-up. It melts ice to keep your gutters and roof from acquiring any form of damage. Helmet Heat is installed inside the Gutter Helmet gutter protection system to keep your gutters in great condition.
Gutter Helmet features a patented nose-forward design which lets rainwater in while keeping everything else out. We also offer a special lifetime warranty that gives homeowners better peace of mind. If you’re interested in learning more about our effective solutions to ice dams from Gutter Helmet of Long Island, give us a call at (800) 824-3772. We’ll be ready to assist you.
