How to Spot Dangerous Ice Dams
You know those beautiful icicles hanging from your eaves? They might look pretty spectacular right now, but they can actually be a sign of something far more dangerous for your roof and your home. If you see icicles or water and ice buildup along the edges of your Billings roofing, you should immediately contact a roofing contractor to help you figure out if you might be at risk for ice dams.
Identifying Ice Dams
The easiest way to spot an ice dam is to get up on the roof and take a look. If you see a growing wall of ice on the outer edge of your roof or on the eaves that is blocking water from getting to the gutters, this is an ice dam. There are some other potential warning signs that you might have a problem that are visible without getting on a ladder outside in the middle of winter:
- Check the attic for signs of water leaking around the outer edges of your Billings roofing—streaks, black mold, or ice
- Check ceilings and walls on the top floor of your home for signs of water damage, such as yellow stains, peeling paint, or bubbling
- Look for persistent icicles around the outer edge of your home in winter
If you see any of these signs, call a roofing contractor in Billings to check for ice dams and provide recommendations on getting rid of them and preventing more in the future.
How They Form
Ice dams form when warm air from your home rises through the attic, heating up the top of your roof and melting the snow. When the water reaches the colder outer edges of your Billings roofing, it freezes again before it reaches the gutters. Over time these walls of ice can continue to build and cause problems with drainage.
Ice Dam Prevention
The easiest way to prevent ice dams from damaging your roofing shingles or gutters is to keep them from forming at all. The best and longest-lasting options are to install proper installation in your attic to prevent too much hot air from escaping your home, then have a Billings MT roofing contractor check your attic ventilation to allow the hot air that does come through to circulate outside before it melts your roof snow.
