Every winter, ice dams cause serious water damage to the interior of houses. You may be wondering: How can a mound of ice forming along the lower portion of the roof trigger damaging water leakage into your home? Ice dams and related water damage are actually the end result of a chain reaction. These are the links in the chain:
- Heated air from living spaces infiltrates the attic through cracks and gaps in walls and ceiling.
- Hot air naturally rises in the cold attic and accumulates in a zone near the peak of the roof, warming the underside of the roof in that area while the remaining lower portions of the roof remain frozen.
- Snow on the warmer upper portion of the roof melts quickly. Runoff flows down to the lower, frigid part of the roof and re-freezes, eventually forming a barrier of ice that prevents runoff from draining into the gutters.
- Trapped water begins backing up on the roof.
- Shingles are designed to repel water flowing down the roof, not standing water. Water soon penetrates the shingles and roof sheathing, leaks into the attic and eventually drips through the ceiling down into living spaces.
Consequences of leakage due to an ice dam include deteriorated wooden roof and attic structure, ruined attic insulation, toxic mold growth in the attic and damage to the ceiling and possessions in rooms below. The ultimate solution to ice dams is preventive measures to stop uneven warming of the roof by reducing warm air infiltration into the attic. All cracks and gaps in ceilings, at joints between walls, around recessed light fixtures, and pipe penetrations must be located and sealed with caulking. Weatherstripping around the attic pull-down stairs or access hatch should also be checked and renewed.
Another frequent source of warm air entering the attic and triggering ice dams is aging, leaky HVAC ductwork routed through the attic. A qualified HVAC contractor can test the ducts for leakage and discuss sealing options.
For more on the causes and cures of ice dams, contact the professionals at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ice dams and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area