An ice dam is a hump of ice that forms at the edge of a roof under certain wintertime conditions.
New roof leaking from ice.
Ice dams happen when ice melts trickles down the roof then freezes again.
What is an ice dam.
These dams can tear apart your home so limit them by keeping your roof clear of snow.
In northern climates ice dams can cause major problems.
If you have a leaky roof you d better fix it immediately even if it doesn t bother you much or you re getting a new roof next year.
The roofs on new england homes and most in the snow belt and northern third of the country are sloped and can easily bear up against snow ice and water weight.
The same goes for snow on decks.
If you see icicles hanging from your roof you most likely have an ice dam.
It will put gutters and downspouts at risk too.
Water then pools above the ice and leaks into your roof.
This guide will give you some tips on how to find a roof leak and how to fix a leaky roof.
Ice dams are a common sight in northern new england winters and home partners has dealt with quite a few.
Check out this article for more on preventing ice dams.
If dams are a serious threat to your roof the problem is usually due to poor ventilation.
Even a small roof leak can cause significant damage to a home so it s important to find and correct a problem as soon as it s noticed on the ceiling.
Ice dam roof leaks.
Even over a short time small leaks can lead to big problems such as mold rotted framing and sheathing destroyed insulation and damaged ceilings.