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Ice Dam Prevention
Michigan’s cold weather brings snow and ice that could eventually cause an ice dam on your roof. If you’re looking for advice on how to get rid of ice dams, you’re going to find contractors that offer a fast fix, but these solutions could hurt your home even further, and fixing an ice dam (yes, sometimes even we call them “ice dams”) on your roof will not solve the underlying cause and prevent them from happening again.
So, before you look for ice dam removal in MI, like Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas, consider investing in getting your home in shape now before you have ice dam damage that you need to fix in an emergency.
How Do Ice Dams Form?
You have likely heard of the havoc that ice dams in Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas can cause. Thick bands of ice form along the eaves of houses, causing millions of dollars of structural damage every year. Some residents have had water-stained ceilings, dislodged roof shingles, sagging gutters, peeling paint, and damaged plaster that can be expensive to fix.
There are many ways to treat the ice dam symptoms listed above, but proper air sealing, insulation, and attic venting are the best way to eliminate the problem.
Ice dams form usually above the overhang along the roof’s edge. Snow melts from the heat and warm air leaking from your living area and gets into the colder edge of the roof, then it refreezes. Each layer of snow that accumulates insulates the roof a little more, keeping more heat in the attic, keeping the roof warmer, and melting more snow. This exponentially increases. As the temperature drops quickly in the area, the eaves freeze.
There are a few methods for roof ice dam prevention in Grand Rapids, including:
1. Seal All Warm Air Leaks
Warm air rises, and will want to escape wherever it can. We want to control air leaks with air sealing services so that warm air vents where we want it to through proper ventilation, but we don’t want the warm air venting onto areas of your roof that will create ice damming. Even if you schedule Michigan ice dam removal, if you haven’t fixed the underlying problem that caused it you will be in the same situation later.
2. Insulate the Living Area and Attic
If you have insufficient levels of existing insulation, especially in your attic, heat can travel via conduction and convection through your ceiling to warm your roof. Then, the water that melts under the snow will refreeze and compound any ice dam that might form there. In addition, proper attic insulation can help your home’s energy efficiency and save you money on your heating bills.
3. Ensure Proper Attic Ventilation
Let the air vent where you want it to! Controlling air flow is often the first step in preventing your attic from heating the roof too much, and helping to prevent ice dams into the future.
Preventing ice dams in Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, Lansing and the surrounding areas can be troublesome, but if you already have a problem, make sure you hire a contractor that knows what they are doing.
Contact Us Today For Ice Dam Prevention
A home energy evaluation, also known as an energy audit, can reveal insulation issues or air leaks that are contributing to your ice dam problems. Our evaluation can not only help you say goodbye to roof rakes and heat cables, but can lower your monthly energy bills and improve your home comfort.
