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Dreaded
ice dams
aggravate
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
The scourge of the season is ice dams. The more shallow the roof, the bigger the ice dam.
Ice dams occur when snow melts on a roof, then refreezes near the gutters or eaves. The ice dam grows taller and spreads further back from the eaves as the freezing and thawing process continues. Water, unable to run down to the gutter and out the downspout, instead creeps under the shingles, through any insulation and down onto ceilings and walls.
The more thawing and refreezing, the more water ends up in the walls of a home.
When heat escapes into the attic, it warms the roof, melting snow. By the time the water gets to the eave, back into a "cold zone" it refreezes, getting caught on the gutter. More heat in the attic, more melting, the ice dam spreads and gets taller.
Construction experts say that inadequate insulation between the home and the attic is a primary cause of ice dams. Adding proper ventilation to the roof will also help by allowing heat to escape instead of warming the roof and spawning ice dams.
Experts say that installing new shingles will not prevent ice dams.
In an effort to keep the temperature under the roof the same as the outside temperature (no melting allowed), insulation should be added including around the trap door into the attic. Warmed air can also get into the attic through plumbing vents, electric outlets and more.
Then add roof ventilation to help warmth escape.
But that will be in the spring.
What to do now?
Ice dams won't "lift out" of a gutter --- stuck like glue.
Trying to chip them out doesn't work --- too solid.
Applying a blow torch --- ummmm, no.
What may work is putting ice melt into the leg of panty hose and tying the end closed. Experts say to place the "leg" perpendicular to the ice dam, with one end hanging off over the ice dam. The intention is to have the concentrated ice melt create a channel for the water trapped under the ice to escape.