Stop Ice Dams Before They Happen
Anyone who has ever dealt with ice dams in Ithaca, Oswego, Utica, Auburn, Syracuse or surrounding New York areas, knows that they’re no fun. For many, they seemingly come out of nowhere, and understanding the root cause of the problem can seem difficult when it’s actually rather straightforward. It’s important to realize that ice dam issues won’t resolve themselves, which is why learning about how to approach this all too common problem is essential for homeowners in Ithaca, Oswego, Utica and Syracuse, New York who are heading into the winter.
Understanding what ice dams are and how they form is the first step to solving the problem and ensuring that ice dams become a thing of the past for your home.
How Do Ice Dams Form?
The roof of your home is one of the many sources of heat loss that can be found throughout. As heat escapes, it heads to the roof, where it melts snow that can be found on the upper areas. If the snow is particularly deep, it will create an even bigger problem due to the fact that snow melt typically doesn’t happen evenly throughout the roof because of hot and cold spots.
As the melted snow trickles down your roof, it can refreeze at the very edge, where the coolest part of the roof meets your gutters. This results in a dam of ice which blocks future snow melt from dripping to the ground. This process repeats itself over and over again until the newly melted “snowwater” backs up and begins seeking a new route to the ground.
Unsurprisingly, water can then seep into the attic and cause serious structural damage if the problem isn’t addressed in time. Your attic is just the first part of the home to be affected, however, as water seepage can damage insulation, walls, ceilings and wood floors in other rooms.
Ice Dams are a Headache
If you have a headache, the underlying cause may be that you are dehydrated. If you merely take a painkiller and don’t address the lack of water your body needs, you may feel better for an hour or two, but sooner or later your headache is going to come back. Putting heating wires, electrical gutter elements, or chipping away at the ice is like taking an aspirin when you have a headache. The ice may melt away temporarily, but if you don’t properly insulate the roof or attic, ice dams will keep coming back. Proper insulation is like a refreshing drink of water, it not only feels good, but it solves the long term problem.
Get Zerodraft: The Comprehensive Solution
One thing that homeowners must know is that ice dams in New York are not going to go away without intervention. Zerodraft offers a comprehensive solution that fixes the problem before it’s even able to start. Proper roof or attic insulation prevents ice dams before they’re able to form, and it’s the first line of defense against this annoying winter headache.
Zerodraft’s expert insulation installers can reduce the amount of air exchange from your attic to the outdoors. A sealed home envelope keeps the hot air inside so it won’t melt the snow on top of your roof.
Zerodraft is here to help with ice dam prevention in Syracuse and surrounding areas. Contact us today to learn more about how to stop ice dams forever.
