Homeowners warned about destructive ice dams

Northlanders are used to insulating their windows, shoveling their sidewalks and navigating slippery surfaces every winter. But another hazard that’s often overlooked looms directly overhead.

As severe winter weather arrives, so does property damage as a result of ice dams. In fact, ice dams during freezing temperatures can cause thousands of dollars in property damage, according to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).

During freezing weather, heat from your home or business can escape through the roof and melt snow on the roof. The snow melt can trickle down to the roof’s edge and refreeze, creating an ice dam that leaves additional snow melt no place to go but inside the attic.

While it’s easy to spot large icicles hanging from gutters, ice dams just above on the roof are often ignored. Home and business owners should remove large icicles and ice dams before severe damage is caused to the gutters, roof and attic.

- Forum Communications

Tags: home and garden, budgeteer, blueprint, home, garden, weather, snow