Removing and Protecting Your Home From Ice Dams

The recent weather laid a thick, heavy blanket of snow across Central Minnesota. Many of us experienced snow in excess of six inches. With the promise of warmer weather in the coming weeks (hurray!), it is important that you continue to remove the snow from the eaves of your home in order to reduce the chance of an ice dam.

An ice dam can occur when the snow accumulates on the roof of a house that is improperly insulated. Without adequate insulation, warm air from the home’s attic space heats up the snow-covered roof. Consequently, the snow begins to melt and trickles down the freezing roof. Quite quickly, the melted snow re-freezes on the roof. The process repeats itself and eventually, ice accumulates along the eave and in the gutter. This built-up ridge of ice is what is referred to as an ice dam.

As the weather warms up and melts the snow, the water cannot properly drain through the accumulated ice and into the gutter. Instead, the water backs up onto your roof and pools resulting in leaks that damage ceilings, walls and the roofing structure.

Even the most thoroughly protected roof that was covered with materials to withstand Minnesota’s harsh winters cannot be guaranteed to resist ice dams. A good roof system is meant to shed water and snow, not waterproof your home. Proper insulation and ventilation are also necessary to best protect your home from ice dams.

But keeping your home safe and dry is simple; it does not take a long time to remove an ice dam. First purchase a roof rake at your local hardware or home improvements store. After a snowfall, extend the handle on the rake and gently scrape the snow from your roof in a downward sweep. A good rule of thumb is to remove three feet of snow from the eaves. Take caution not to damage your gutters!

Minnesota Home Improvements can make the rooftop snow removal process even easier. Contact us now and our professional team will stop out and remove the snow from your roof while you watch from the comfort of your home. It’s quick, easy and affordable. We will be happy to plow out the driveway while we’re there, too.