Icicles hanging from your roof may seem like quintessential Currier and Ives, but in reality, may spell trouble. They may be the sign of an ice dam.
Ice dams often happen when there’s a heavy snow fall, and then warm air from your home wafts into the attic, and melts snow and ice on the roof. Water then drains along the roof until it reaches the cold overhang, refreezes and causes an ice dam and icicles. The ice dam can damage your roof, and cause leaks into your home.
The good news is that there are some steps you can take to help prevent leaks from happening:
Keep clear. Clean away leaves, sticks and other debris from gutters and down spouts to allow melting roof snow to flow. Ensure they stay clear all winter.
Close it up. Seal air leaks to keep the warm air inside your home. For common sources of leaks, see this infographic from Energy Star. Consider getting an energy assessment, in which a professional uses specialized equipment such as an infrared camera to detect air leaks. You can arrange for an assessment through your local utility, a non-profit energy group or heating-ventilation-air-conditioning specialist.
Rake it away. Have a professional remove snow from your roof or if you can do it safely, use a snow rake.
Save your energy. Boosting your home’s insulation can help keep heat from escaping and warming the roof. It can save on energy costs too. To find out how much insulation you need for your climate, contact a roofing or insulation contractor.
Preventing water leaks is a key way to protect your home from winter’s risks. Another is ensuring you have adequate insurance. Give Eastling Insurance a call today and we can help you get the correct coverage for your custom needs.
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Call us today at: (920) 596-3355
Sandie (Sandra) Wilz is the owner and an agent at Eastling Insurance in Manawa, Wisconsin. She is passionate about educating clients and prospects on what their insurance coverages mean and how having the correct coverage can give the client the peace of mind they would expect from their insurance protection. Sandie can be reached at (920) 596-3355.