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Ice Dam Removal: What is an Ice Dam?
12/10/2019 (Permalink)
This graphic shows how an ice dam forms and creates water damage in your home. Call SERVPRO of Branford for ice dam removal!
At first glance, icicles hanging off your roof may remind you of a winter wonderland. But, these icicles may be an indication of an ice dam forming, which can damage your home.
What is an Ice Dam?
An Ice Dam forms when melted snow refreezes at roof edges and can form with even as little as 1 or 2 inches of snow.
Three things are needed for an ice dam to form:
- Snow
- Heat to melt the snow
- Cold to refreeze melted snow into solid ice.
How Can Ice Dams Damage Your Home?
Ice Dams dislodge the shingles of your roof and let water into your home. The under-layer of the ice dam continuously melts and re-freezes due to the warmth of your roof, resulting in water entering your home.
This leads to:
- Trapped moisture in ceilings, walls, and insulation
- Water-stained ceilings
- Peeling paint
- Mold and mildew to growth
- Ruin your gutters and make them sag.
Ice dam damages can create numerous other consequences, Altogether, the water damage from ice dams can affect the structure of your home.
What Should You Do?
To completely remove an ice dam without damaging your roof, it is likely best to call specialists like SERVPRO® of Branford/Shoreline. We have specialized equipment to safely and easily remove ice dams.
It is also wise to address why the ice dam formed in the first place after removing it, so that it does not happen again. This may include better insulating your attic and roof, so that the warmth of your home doesn’t create conditions for an ice dam to form.
We’re available 24/7 for emergency service. Call us today.