Blog

Fall is in full swing in the Twin Cities metro area, and that can mean only one thing: winter is well on its way!

With the temperature dropping, we are in for another harsh, long, and arduous winter. When the cold weather sets in, there will be some challenges to face when it comes to the exterior of your home – the most prominent being ice dams.

Ice dams can cause many problems to your home and safety. Let’s discuss the importance of removing ice dams from your roof!

How Do Ice Dams Form?

Before we get into why ice dam removal is important, we need to find out the root cause of them.

When the temperature drops below freezing, precipitation will turn from rain to snow. Snow will fall on your roof and simply sit there unless the temperature in your attic is above freezing.

As you may know, heat rises. When your attic isn’t properly insulated, the warm air produced by your home’s heating elements will reach it. When the temperature of your roof is above freezing, it will cause the snow to melt.

The snowmelt will then trickle to the edge of your roof, where your gutters and eaves are still freezing cold, and begin to accumulate. The snowmelt will begin to freeze again, since it is away from the heat of the attic.

This process will repeat several times until you can’t help but notice a huge ice dam sitting on the edge of your roof.

The Importance of Removing Ice Dams

Let’s face it, ice dams may look cool, but the damage and complications they cause are certainly not. Aside from the damage, it may be difficult to repair right away since the harsh temperature proves to be a challenge.

The first part of your home to be affected by ice dams will be your shingles, as water will begin to seep in, causing water damage. When this happens, further water damage to your insulation and other parts of your interior (like electrical components) will be next in line.

In addition to water damage, mold can begin to form in your attic!

Ice dams are also hazardous. An ice dam can become so heavy that it breaks off and falls to the ground. Apart from shingles being ripped off, ice dams can also damage your car, windows, pets, and even you and your family.

How to Remove Ice Dams

Removing an ice dam from your roof is tricky business. You cannot use a hammer or pick on them or risk damaging your roof and gutters. Hot water is the best way to remove an ice dam; however, always be careful when climbing a ladder in the winter. Make sure the ladder is on solid ground and not in a slippery area.

If you don’t feel comfortable removing an ice dam from your home, call Trinity Exteriors. We specialize in safe ice dam removal, so you don’t have to.

Prevent Ice Dams

It’s important to follow fall home maintenance tips in order to prevent wintertime damage to your home. Preventing ice dams is a proactive way to ensure this problem doesn’t happen.

One of these tips is to clean your gutters in the fall. Removing debris from your gutters will ensure water and melted snow can drain away properly rather than accumulate on your roof.

You can also use a snow rake to pull snow off your roof. This will prevent the snow from melting on your roof too close to your gutters and give other snow a place to go when it does melt.

Finally, you can inspect and upgrade your attic insulation. Insulation is vital to your home, and it can help prevent ice dams as well. It will prevent your attic from becoming too warm from your home’s internal heating system, which causes the snow to melt. Plus, upgrading your insulation can make your home more energy efficient.

Contact Trinity Exteriors for Ice Dam Removal Near the Twin Cities

Do you need ice dam removal or other exterior services such as roof repair, storm damage repair, windows, or siding? Call on Trinity Exteriors!

Request a free estimate online or give us a call at 952-920-9520 today!