How To Fix Roof Leak From Ice Dam

An ice dam is a hump of ice that forms at the edge of a roof under certain wintertime conditions.

How to fix roof leak from ice dam.

The higher surfaces of the roof s surface must be above 32 f and lower surfaces below 32 f. Secondary ways to stop ice dam damage. Rake the snow off the roof with a special roof rake install heat cables in ice dam prone valleys or other spots and to prevent leaks add special ice and water barrier when reroofing. This roof leaks during the snowy part of winter and during storms in the summer certainly due to poor flashing.

First get rid of any built up snow using a roof rake used for single family homes with pitched roofs or shoveling it off on flat roofs or when there s a significant amount. There is yet another fix but it will not prevent ice dams only leaks from them. What causes ice dams. Severe roof ice dam backups caused leaks into areas of this home.

Hacking away at ice dams with a hammer chisel or shovel is bad for your roofing and dangerous for you. Ice accumulates along the eaves forming a dam. A correct diagnosis of where leaks are occurring is helpful in making the right repair to stop ice dam leaks in the future. It will put gutters and downspouts at risk too.

The soffit that meets the roof is one of the toughest areas to waterproof. For an ice dam to form there must be snow on the roof. In the photo you can still see signs of an ice dam. A dam will grow on the parts of the roof that are below freezing.

Ice dams are a common sight in northern new england winters and home partners has dealt with quite a few. Poor ventilation and temperature control in the attic can also cause ice dams. Meltwater from the warm roof backs up behind it flows under the shingles and into the house. Roof ice dam leak diagnosis repair.

This article describes illustrates the steps in pinpointing the point of water entry from a roof ice dam leak. There it soaks the insulation rendering it much less effective and can leak through the ceiling drywall below and into your living space. Snow melts on the warm roof and then freezes on the cold eaves. An ice dam can damage both your roof and the inside of your home.

An ice dam occurs when snow melts and the water freezes when it hits the colder edges of your roof.