The best way to avoid leakage caused by ice dams is to prevent them from occurring. You can do that by taking the following steps.
1. Clean leaves, sticks, and debris from gutters and down spouts each fall. This basic maintenance will allow melting snow to flow into the gutters and down the spouts as intended.
2. Remove the snow regularly from the roof with your Roof Snow Scraper. By keeping the snow load to a minimum, you will reduce the chances of an ice dam forming. You don’t’ have to clean the entire roof area, mainly the bottom edge of the roof, about 3 or 4 feet wide along the eave edge.
After you have cleaned off the bottom edge of the roof the snow will melt off when the sun comes out, this will keep the eave edge free of ice.
3. During the winter, keep the gutters and down spouts free of snow, ice, and icicles. By using your Roof Snow Scraper on a regular basis, your gutters and down spouts will be less likely to collect snow and ice and will continue to provide an outlet for melting snow. You will also prevent damage to the gutters and down spouts that can result from the excess weight of ice and snow.
4. Upgrade the attic insulation R-Value*. If your home was built before 2008, you should consider upgrading your attic’s insulation to a minimum of R-49, which is equal to about 18-19 inches of fiberglass insulation. This will keep the house warmer and the attic cooler, thereby reducing the chances of attic heat melting roof snow. Plus, you will enjoy the lower costs of an energy efficient home!
5. Evaluate your attic ventilation system*. Good airflow under the eaves and soffits promotes a cool and dry underside of the roof deck, preventing roof snow from melting. A quality ventilation system will also extend the life span of your roof by reducing dry rot and material cupping and curling.
6. Install De-Icer Cables in your gutters. De-Icer Cables use electricity to heat up your gutter and melt the snow so that your gutter dosen't get filled with ice.
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