Many times icicles form as a result of an ice dam on your roofline. Ice dams occur when the snow on your roof melts and refreezes, creating a buildup of ice in your eave troughs and along the edge of your roof.
These dams can be problematic and damaging to your home and may result in:
- Damaging or loosening of shingles
- Deforming or damaging to eave troughs
- Rotting the roof’s plywood
- Leaking into the attic
- Damage to insulation and drywall which may cause mold
- To help eliminate the possibility of ice dams in the future, thus protecting your home from damage, be sure that your home’s attic is properly ventilated.
- The colder the attic, the less likely the warm air will cause snow to melt and refreeze into ice dams.
To help prevent future ice damming:
- Be sure the attic floor is well insulated to keep the home’s warm air in the home.
- Check that the attic access is well sealed.
- Ensure that your home’s exhaust fans are venting outside and not into the attic.
- Examine flashing around your home’s vents and chimneys for signs of cracks or separation.
- If the ice damming occurs around a heat source, such as lightning, consider moving the lighting or refraining from using it when there is snow on your roof’s edge.
Take note of ice dam locations now and remedy the cause in the spring. A little preventative maintenance can help protect your home against many potential problems, saving you time and money!