What is an ice dam.
New roof leaking from ice.
An ice dam is a hump of ice that forms at the edge of a roof under certain wintertime conditions.
Ice dams are a common sight in northern new england winters and home partners has dealt with quite a few.
An ice dam forms as a ridge of ice along the lower edge of your roof and prevents melting snow higher up on the roof from flowing past the dam.
If you see icicles hanging from your roof you most likely have an ice dam.
In northern climates ice dams can cause major problems.
This guide will give you some tips on how to find a roof leak and how to fix a leaky roof.
If dams are a serious threat to your roof the problem is usually due to poor ventilation.
It will put gutters and downspouts at risk too.
The roofs on new england homes and most in the snow belt and northern third of the country are sloped and can easily bear up against snow ice and water weight.
The good news is that many issues with roof leaks commonly found in homes can be easily repaired.
The same goes for snow on decks.
Ice dam roof leaks.
Check out this article for more on preventing ice dams.
Even over a short time small leaks can lead to big problems such as mold rotted framing and sheathing destroyed insulation and damaged ceilings.
Ice dams happen when ice melts trickles down the roof then freezes again.
Water then pools above the ice and leaks into your roof.
If you have a leaky roof you d better fix it immediately even if it doesn t bother you much or you re getting a new roof next year.