Fix Ice Dam Roof Leak

Ask this old house general contractor tom silva explains the best ways to keep your roof and gutters free from those dreaded ice dams.

Fix ice dam roof leak.

Unfortunately for many ice dams and the related water leakage problems are an unwelcome wintertime tradition here in new england. We ll soon see fall colors turn to bare branches and ice dam season will be upon us again so what better time to write about how to fix ice dam roof leaks. Blow in cold air. We have found that the only way to cure an ice dam and prevent one in the first place is to.

Emergency procedures to stop indoor water leaks from a sloped roof roof ice dam. See below for a shopp. Install soffit vents on the soffit which is the under part of the roof overhang. Seal all points where warm air leaks from the living space into the spaces immediately below the roof sheathing.

The lower roof formed ice dams that sent so much water leaking into the roof wall over a window that water was entering the home interior. Here we describe the steps in getting the water under control and stopping the ice dam leak. Be very careful here you don t want to further damage. Take a box fan into the attic and aim it at the underside of the roof where water is actively.

Improving the vapour barrier and sealing off attic air leaks is the number one step to take to solve these issues. 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. Ice dam roof leaks. What is an ice dam.

In northern climates ice dams can cause major problems. Next remove the ice dam by breaking it free in small chunks. Pull off snow with a long handled aluminum roof rake above while you stand safely on the. Short of praying for warm weather here are two stop gap measures we recommend.

Roof ice dam leak diagnosis indoor inspection points determine the building s prior leak and ice dam leak history determine what prior repair attempts had been made identify the obvious leak points where leaks were already visible identify and explore high risk points where hidden leaks and wet. Water then pools above the ice and leaks into your roof. Insulate the living space well enough to prevent conduction and convection of heat. This article illustrates the successful control of an ice dam leak on an older home.

5 steps to handling ice dam damage first get rid of any built up snow using a roof rake used for single family homes with pitched roofs or shoveling it.