NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — With Tennesseans seeing temperature swings following Friday’s winter storm, AAA issued a warning about ice dams, which can damage your roof, as well as the inside of your home.
“Ice dams are more common in northern parts of the U.S., but they can form anywhere there are drastic temperature shifts,” said Megan Cooper, spokesperson for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “It’s important to know what you’re looking for, because this can lead to costly repairs to your attic, walls, ceilings, insulation, and flooring.”
Officials said you can spot ice dams by looking for icicles that form along the edge of your roof and/or gutters, as well as ice developing along the overhangs of your roof or filling the gutters.
AAA offered the following explanation for how ice dams form and the hazard it poses to houses:
- Heat inside the house enters the attic and melts snow on the roof.
- The melted snow drips down the roof and re-freezes when it reaches the colder eaves (the part of the roof that overhangs the wall).
- As more melted snow travels down the roof, it starts to re-freeze sooner, pushing its way under the shingles.
- The water finds holes in the roof decking — between sheets of plywood or around nails — and begins to drip into the attic.
“Once the water is inside your house, it can cause paint to peel, floors to warp, and soggy insulation. If that water is left unattended, it could lead to mold and mildew,” Cooper stated. “Additionally, ice dams may cause some damage to the roof by loosening shingles, rotting the wood or tearing off gutters.”
If you do have ice dams, officials said you need to avoid panicking and call a professional. Breaking off ice may seen like a simple task, but if it’s not removed properly, you could cause more damage to your home or injure yourself in the process.
“If you notice water damage or leaks coming into your home, contact your insurance provider immediately to review your plan’s coverage and file a claim,” Cooper said. “Many policies have ice dam coverage, but exclusions could apply.”
“Even if you don’t have damage, it’s a good idea to contact your insurance agent to make sure you fully understand your coverage options,” she continued. “This will provide the comfort in knowing you’re prepared for anything Mother Nature throws at you.”
The key to ice dam prevention is to keep your roof the same temperature as your eaves. According to AAA, there are several ways to do this before snow starts accumulating:
- Increase attic ventilation through the use of soffit, gable, and ridge vents to help circulate air through the attic, ensuring a consistent temperature.
- Examine the insulation to make sure it’s not blocking the vents. Also, check its depth.
- Prevent heat from escaping into the attic by ensuring that all attic ducts are sealed and properly insulated, and that any exhaust fans lead outdoors rather than to the attic.
- Consult a professional if the attic is a living space, you need vents installed, or you need insulation added.
Officials said keeping the bottom couple of feet of the roof and gutters clear of snow can help minimize ice dams, but the safer, more effective, and longer-lasting solution is to fix the insulation inside the attic.
AAA strongly advised against getting up on the roof to shovel the snow off or trying to get rid of ice dams yourself. Instead, just hire a licensed contractor with experience in ice dams to remove them properly and assess any potential damage to the house. However, when choosing which company to hire for the removal, make sure to ask about their methods since chipping or sawing away at the ice damage the shingles.
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