It’s no secret that winter in the Midwest can be hard on your home. Cold temperatures and winter elements can take a toll on the exterior, but what about the interior?
Ice dams are a common issue during the winter season. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining off. Ice dams can cause major damage to roofs, gutters, and walls. They can also create an environment for mold and mildew growth inside your home (especially hard to see places, like your attic).
Credit: National Weather Service
One of the best ways to prevent ice dams is to ensure that your roof is well insulated and well ventilated. Start by making sure your attic is properly insulated and sealed. This will help keep the temperature of your roof consistent so that the snow melts and runs off evenly instead of pooling in one spot. Additionally, make sure your attic is properly ventilated so that warm air from inside your home does not escape into the attic and warm the roof. You can also install heating cables along the edge of your roof, which will help melt the ice and snow and keep ice dams from forming. Finally, make sure that your gutters are clean and free of debris, so that the melted snow and ice can run off your roof easily.
If your home isn’t properly sealed and received damage from an ice dam, let the crew at Intek help. While we don’t remove ice dams, we do offer professional mold remediation and will get your home back to a healthy environment as quickly as possible.
