A Guide to Preventing the Buildup of Ice Dams

Ice dams might seem insignificant at first. But if you’ve experienced their presence before, you know that’s not the case. These problems lead to immensely expensive home repairs unless they are dealt with properly. How do they even form in the first place? Good question. One common culprit is the lack of adequate insulation. Snow drifts away from the roof before settling into the gutters. Eventually, the blockages feed on each other and lead to water damage and freeze damage to roof shingles and underlayments. So how do you prevent them from happening? 

Improve Your Home’s Insulation 

As we mentioned above, invest in improving your house’s insulation layers. Better insulation reduces heat escape that robs your home of its warmth. Plus, the transient heat forces piled-up snow to melt more quickly. This dissolution enables ice dams to accumulate. Besides, by increasing the number of insulators you have, you can also decrease your wintertime heating bill. And while insulation heat leakage from holes is the most common reason for ice damming, it’s not the only culprit. Air seal foam stops heat from escaping into the attic of your home. The heat in the attic warms up the roof sheathing. Why does this matter? The snow on top of the roof melts and then refreezes once the water reaches the gutters. The gutters aren’t as warm, hence why the ice begins to accumulate again.  

Schedule Roof Inspection and Repairs 

There is no time like the present to schedule a roof inspection.  Roof repairs now reward you with the peace of mind that comes with such foresight. Leaks contribute to heat loss, as do damages, decays, and structural weakening. Then confirm that chimneys, windows, and ventilation pipes are in good condition.  

Add Plastic Snow Guards 

Plastic roof snow guards may seem like they’re too flimsy to withstand the excessive weight. But if you line the roof slope with staggered sets of these devices, such a strategy will pay off. For one thing, it diminishes the amount of snow that clumps together and facilitates melt-off.  For another, it minimizes the chances that ice dams will become burdensome issues. 

Swap Out Outdated Bulbs 

Replacing traditional light bulbs with newer LEDs sounds like a tiny change. However, incandescent bulbs emit more heat. This attribute means that recessed lighting is more problematic than you might expect. So inspect all of the lights mounted into the ceiling or embedded in the attic. Besides, LEDs last far longer (10x as long) than their older counterparts and, more excitingly, consume 75% less energy.  

Contact Accessible Home Builders Today

Here at Accessible Home Builders, we’re proud to say we’ve been building and remodeling homes since 1994. We’ve serviced Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Selbyville, Seaford, Millsboro, Georgetown, Laurel, and more communities within Delaware in that time. We work to guarantee a high level of professionalism, dedication, and the use of quality materials to ensure our customers have the home they deserve.

To get in touch with us, give us a call at our office at 302-663-0464, send us an email at info@accessiblehomebuilders.com or visit us in person at 28412 DuPont Blvd, #103 Millsboro, DE 19966. Alternatively, give our satellite office a call at 302-628-9571, located at 500 W. Stein Hwy. Seaford, DE 19973. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, and YouTube to stay updated on what we’re up to next!