Winter Tip: Ice Dams and Water Damage

Snow is accumulating on your house. Ice is building up on the edge of your roof. Icicles are growing larger and larger. This is just a part of winter in New England, right? While all of us must combat the harsh realities of cold temperatures and freezing precipitation, we should not succumb to the damaging tendencies of ice dams.
Ice dams, if left unattended, can lead to exterior and interior property damage. Roof shingles can peel and wood can rot. This may lead to leaks inside the house. Water pouring into your home in the middle of winter is not a fun situation. There are a couple of things you can to do to help avoid costly water damage from ice dams…
1)                  Minimize snow accumulation on your roof– Following each significant snow fall; carefully remove as much snow as possible. Tools such as a roof rake with extension poles allow you to reach areas from the ground. No climbing on ladders in icy conditions. Roof rakes can be purchased for roughly $50 to $100. Make sure to read and follow all the safety instructions.
2)                  Create channels in ice for water flow- For existing ice dams, you need to create a place for the melting ice to go. One way to do this is to fill a pair of panty hose with calcium chloride ice melt. Carefully position the panty hose perpendicular to the edge of the roof. As the calcium chloride works, it will create a channel for water to flow instead of continuing to compound with the existing dams.
If you have sustained water damage from ice dams at your home, please call Soil-Away. We will identify all affected areas and efficiently dry your property to prevent further damage. We work with all national and local insurance carriers and will assist you through the claims process. We are an IICRC certified firm. Please remember to keep our contact numbers available in the event of a water loss relating to ice dams.