Health & Fitness
Those (Ice) Dam Holiday Lights
Safety tips for taking down holiday decorations AND what to do about icicle problems.
Happy Holidays! Hope yours was happy and safe and everything you wanted it to be.
Many of us will be taking down our Holiday Decorations right after New Years Day - if you are planning to tackle this project next week, please review the Electrical Safety Foundation tips for dealing with your holiday lights and the OSHA Guidelines for ladder safety - it can be a dangerous task!
Oh, hey while you're up there, take a look around. Is there debris clogging your gutters? Think back to last week - did the winter blast leave you with icicles, or even worse, ice dams? Icicles and ice dams can mean big trouble for your gutters and roof, and lead to extensive damage inside the house too. Let's take a look at the most likely causes of ice problems and how to fix them.
Icicles and ice dams are caused by too much heat in the attic. This can be the result of inadequate insulation, improper venting, or both. We have found that in general, the most effective venting system is a ridge vent with a continuous soffit vent. If any of the vents are blocked, problems can develop. Insulation is important, too - and you should have at least R-38 in your attic to prevent the ice cycle.
Heat tape, gutter warmers and roof rakes all address the symptoms, but not the cause. Have both insulation and venting checked by a trusted professional, and get recommendations for a more permanent fix.
Older homes or homes with attic space converted to living space can be more prone to the ice issues, but with proper venting and insulation, the problems can be greatly reduced or eliminated.
Bonus - once you are properly insulated, you may see a savings in your utility bills.
Okay - that's out of the way. Come back next week and we can talk about something a little more fun - trends in design and color for 2014!
