There is a huge portion of the country that will be experiencing a lot of ice build-up on their roofs this winter, and one of the most common questions I’m asked during the cold winter months is how prevent those bothersome ice dams.
Every winter I battle with ice dams that form on my roof and in my gutters. I clean the gutters every fall, but the ice returns each winter. How can I get rid of it?
If you are one of the many homeowners who find ice building up and causing problems with your home, I have outlined a couple of simple tips on beating the deep roof freeze.
You know what they say about ice dams? They wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t for all that dam ice! But seriously, the key to eliminating ice build-up is to maintain the same temperature between your roof and the outside air.
To do this, keep your attic well ventilated. Continuous soffit vents and continuous ridge vents enable air to flow into the attic and then circulate out the top. Also, be sure that there isn’t any insulation stuck in the crotch of the roof rafters. This can block airflow into the soffit vents. And make sure that your ceiling insulation has a rating of at least R40, meaning a twelve- to sixteen-inch thickness of insulation. Some areas of the country need even more insulation.
Another option is to install heat cables at the base of the roof and into the gutters and down spouts. Make sure that the cables are installed as described by the manufacturer and that they are plugged into a GFCI outlet to lessen the chance of a short and potential fire hazard. Also check to make sure that your city or village allows these cables to be installed
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