Ice dam is the primary reason for water damage during winter. Ice dams are ridges of snow formed on the edge of roof-tops. They are formed during winter due to the accumulation of snow on the roof-tops. This prevents the water that melts on top of the roof from draining down, resulting in water accumulation on the roof. Later, this water seeps into the house through walls causing water damage.

Reasons for the formation of Ice Dams

Water Damage due to ice dams occur due to a variation in surface temperature on the roof. Snow forms on the roofs during winter. Heat that escapes from the inside of the house thaws some of the snow on the roof. It mainly thaws the snow that is present in the upper parts of the roof and this heat rarely reaches the edges of the roof. This results in snow at the edges of the roof called ice dams. When this water tries to flow down the roof, it is prevented by the ice dams formed in the edges. So, the water backs up behind the ice dams and slowly this water seeps into the house causing water damage.

There are many ways for the heat from inside the house to travel to the roof. The main reason is lack of proper insulation. This causes the heat to escape from inside the house. Other reasons include exhaust systems from kitchens and bathrooms that end up on the roof and chimneys that emit heat on the roof. Frequent use of fireplaces also contributes to this problem.

Water Damage due to ice dams can result in water seepage through the walls, peeling of paint, damaged plaster, increased humidity inside the house and clogging of gutters.

Preventing Ice Dams

Water damage can be prevented by keeping the temperature constant on the roof. There are a number of ways to do it.

Short-term solution

The short-term solution is to remove the ice dams present on the edges of the roof. One way to do it is by using rakes. But this can damage the roof. Another way is to use calcium chloride. This is usually filled in a hose and this hose is kept on the ice dams. Calcium chloride will melt the ice dams, paving way for the water to flow down.

Long-term Solution

Long-term solution is to prevent the heat from getting to the roof. This can be done by increased insulation. Many homes are now equipped with insulation ceilings of R-38, which means that 1/38 of the amount of energy per square foot only passes through the house. This can reduce heat loss substantially.

Another way to avoid water damage is to block the air leakages. This can be done by avoiding any kind of penetration in the attic and by sealing any existing penetrations and leakages.

The solution to most problems is easy when the root-cause is known. In this situation, the root-cause is loss of heat from the house. So, a solution to prevent water damage should revolve around preventing this heat loss.