The Ugly Truth About Those Beautiful Icicles

       During the winter, especially ones as harsh as this year, snow and freezing temperatures take their toll on your home.  You may see many homes with large icicles hanging from roofs and think how pretty they look.  But this pretty facade could cause damage to the interior of your home.  During this time of year, homeowners  may think they have a leak in their roof when what they are really dealing with is an ice dam.

       An "ice dam" forms when warm air in the attic melts snow and ice that has accumulated on the roof.   The melted snow runs down to the eaves of the house and freezes when it gets to the unheated roof edge or gutter. During the next warm or rainy day,  the ice melts and has  nowhere to go. The water begins to puddle and then backs up underneath the roofing shingles leaking into the attic or interior walls of your home.  The damage may be obvious as when you see water stains, peeling paint or actual leaks inside your home.  Or the water intrusion may be limited to the attic which may cause insulation to become wet,  increasing the potential for mold to form.

       There are several things homeowners can do to prevent ice dams from forming:

1. Keep gutters and downspouts clear of debris.
2. Gutter heaters can be installed to prevent ice from accumulating in the gutters.
3. Make sure there is adequate ventilation in the attic so that there is not a large buildup of heat in the attic which causes snow on the roof to melt faster than the ice on the eaves.
4. If you are thinking about replacing your roof,  make sure that a waterproof ice and water membrane is installed under the new roofing shingles just above every gutter and overhang of the house. This waterproof membrane will keep the house and attic dry during an ice dam.

       I hope this information helps. Our next topic which will be published next month will be about making your home more energy efficient.

Miles Greer

President Long Island Craftmaster Corp.

www.licraftmaster.com