Ice dams. If you live in Eastern Nebraska, you don’t have to drive around long before you see houses (maybe even your own) with giant icicles hanging from the gutters. It looks pretty, but obviously it’s not an ideal situation. What you are seeing isn’t just icicles! You have an ice dam issue!
Ice dams occur when there is a large quantity of snow built up on your roof followed by multiple days and evenings of a freeze/thaw cycle. As snow melts on the upper areas of your roof, the water travels down to the gutters. If the gutters are already full of snow and ice, the water pools behind the ice. It either gradually flows over the top (creating the “icicles”) or backs up under the shingles as it re-freezes. Both situations can be problematic. The ice in (and overflowing over) your gutters becomes incredibly heavy, which can negatively impact how the gutters perform going forward. The ice that creeps up under your shingles can cause a “leak” when it re-melts, resulting in moisture in the attic and water spots on your ceiling.
As far as what to do in the present? There isn’t a whole lot you can do, to be honest. I’m advising most people that are calling me right now (except in extreme cases) to let nature take its course this time around.
However, going forward, there are ways to prevent ice dams:
As Ben Franklin said: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. My general advice for now? CAREFULLY remove snow and icicles over traffic areas (doorways, garage, etc.) to prevent problems from falling ice and snow. But unless you are experiencing significant issues, let nature take its course for the remainder of this winter. (If you aren’t sure if you are an extreme case, give us a call at 402-330-0999 for help – it’s better to be safe than sorry.) As for the preventative part, contact us when the weather clears up. We would be happy to go over your ventilation, gutters, and other roofing system components to help you find ways to prevent ice dams in the future.
402-330-0999
(Omaha)
402-328-0219
(Lincoln)
402-362-7124
(York)
2435 S 156th Cir Omaha, NE 68130
301 S 70th Ste 315 Lincoln, NE 68510
116 S Lincoln Ave., Suite B York, NE 68467