It’s no secret, this winter has been one of many harshest on report within the Higher Boston space. As you
shovel away snow out of your sidewalk and driveway
as every storm passes, just be sure you don’t ignore the snow and ice that’s accumulating in your roof. It might look fairly, however there’s a main menace posed by this snow buildup – ice dams.
How an ice dam varieties:
At first, your roof is roofed in snow. Because the storm blows over, although, any heat in your roof’s floor may cause snow to soften and run down your roof. Sadly, not all the water might go away your roof – a few of it’s going to construct up behind an ice dam brought on by freezing snow close to your gutters.
This may occasionally sound innocent at first, however it is very important notice that this water buildup can leak by any small cracks in your roof, inflicting injury to your roof and your attic, together with warping and detachment of eave troughs, wooden rot, and extra. The injury may even typically delve deeper – into your house’s ceiling and inside partitions inflicting drywall and plaster injury.
In the event you see icicles forming on the sides of your roof, you in all probability have an ice dam forming. This buildup of ice on the roofline is one positive signal that the snow in your roof is melting and has the potential to trigger you severe points.
Stopping ice dam formation:
Fortunately, there are some things that you would be able to attempt with a view to forestall the formation of ice dams (and the potential for intensive injury to your house). Listed here are two strategies:
Rigorously brush the snow off of your roof when it’s recent. You should utilize a brush or
roof rake
however make sure that to not injury your shingles within the course of – you don’t wish to forestall one drawback and trigger one other!
Use
Ice Soften tablets like these
. They get rid of the necessity to climb on a ladder and endanger your security. All it’s essential to do is toss a number of onto your roof from the protection of the bottom. It should soften by present ice and snow and stop ice dam formation.

In the event you look in your roof and see a spot the place water is leaking in because of an ice dam, regulate the distinction in temperature in your roof by blowing air from a field fan on the leak’s location. This may freeze the pooling water in its tracks.
Bear in mind, although, that it’s not value risking your well being to take away snow out of your roof. It’s a troublesome job that’s typically greatest left to the professionals. In the event you need assistance taking measures to make sure your house’s security, we advocate hiring somebody that may handle the snow and ice.
When you have an ice dam situation:
Fortunately, most inside and exterior injury brought on by ice dams is roofed below an ordinary
householders insurance coverage coverage
. When you have discovered water injury in your attic (or in your ceilings or inside partitions) because of an ice dam, name Vargas and Vargas Insurance coverage Company instantly to begin the declare course of.
You possibly can name our workplace at
617-298-0655
throughout workplace hours – Monday by Friday from 8:30 am till 5:30 pm. If it’s essential to contact the company exterior of enterprise hours, use our 24/7 CSR hotline:
866-760-1442
.
