SASKATCHEWAN - We want homeowners to be aware that the freeze-thaw cycle we’ve experienced recently creates ideal conditions for condensation and ice damming. Both will cause a lot of damage to the walls, ceiling and insulation of your home. They may even lead to mould.
The ideal conditions for ice damming look like this: freeze – thaw – freeze – thaw
SGI Canada put together some information to help you stop condensation and ice damming, stated a release. Fortunately, both problems can often be spotted and hopefully prevented by removing as much snow as possible off your roof, along with a few other tips.
What's condensation and ice damming?
These problems are caused by freeze-thaw weather cycles. The snow becomes a layer of insulation on your roof, which warms up the air in your attic. If you have poor attic ventilation, the warm air can lead to condensation. This also causes the snow to melt and roll down to the edge of the roof and the soffits. Unless the melted snow can drain properly, it’ll freeze and build up over time, creating ice dams.
Throughout the winter, if the ice dams spread up the roof, water will work its way under your shingles and get into your attic. The water can seep into your insulation, roof and walls. Warm air from your home will rise into your attic, making the ice dam grow. Over time, wet surfaces attract mold, which causes breathing problems and makes repairs much more expensive.
Ice damming is a vicious cycle! If you don't take care of it right away, it's going to get worse.
5 tips to prevent ice damming
1. Get the snow off your roof
You should always keep the snow load on your roof to a minimum to prevent it from causing an ice dam. We don't recommend climbing on the roof yourself. Use a roof rake or hire a professional to clear away excess snow. Read our tips for using a roof rake.
2. Try and find the vent on your roof
When you find the vent, make sure to clear the snow and ice out of it – not just the snow on top of it.
3. Clear your gutters and downspouts
Melting snow and icy water need somewhere to go. Clean leaves out of your downspouts and gutters in the fall and try to get rid of as much ice, snow and gunk as possible throughout the winter. Break off any icicles that build up around the roof of your home.
4. Keep the air moving in your attic
Your attic needs good insulation and ventilation. Without it, the heat inside your home will leak into the attic and cause the snow on the roof to melt. We recommend bringing in a roofing contractor to make sure the airflow is working properly.
5. Make sure fans and venting are sealed
Many homes have exhaust fans, air ducts, chimneys, attic hatches and pipes - and many of these are vented into the attic. They're designed to move air flow properly, but if they aren't sealed, extra air can escape around them. We recommend going into your attic and checking the seals. If they’re leaky, you can fix them yourself or hire a professional to take care of it for you. Good seals will save you money by keeping your house warmer and preventing your furnace from working harder to heat it.
Know the signs of an ice dam
Do you know what to look for? Check out how to spot the five signs of ice damming.
1. Icicles on your roof
This is one of the first signs that you have an ice dam. Icicles building up indicate that your gutters are full and the melting water has nowhere to go.
2. Dark-coloured icicles
The colour is usually caused by dirt from inside your house and means you probably have an ice dam. Discoloured icicles are caused by water coming into your attic, picking up dirt and taking it back outside.
3. New water-stains on your ceilings
If you see stains on your ceiling during the winter, you probably have an ice dam. Water stains can appear on every floor of your home. It can also run down the inside of your walls and pour into your basement. This is a pretty good indication of a dam.
4. Melted snow on your roof
Take a look at your roof and those of your neighbours. Is your melting the same or different? Are there places on the roof where the snow has melted more than others? More at the top or more at the bottom? If you have different types of melting, you might have ice damming.
5. Dams
Lastly, are there hills or mounds of ice running along the bottom edge of your roof? That's a good sign that you have ice damming.
