TYPICAL ICE DAMS |
ICE DAMS ICE DAMS ARE CAUSED BY THE ACCUMULATION OF HEAVY SNOW ON THE ROOF SURFACE. THERE ARE TWO FORCES AT WORK THAT CAUSE ICE DAMS. THE INSIDE HEAT OF YOUR HOUSE IS TRYING TO RISE AND BECOMES TRAPPED IN THE ATTIC SPACE HEATING THE ROOF BOARDS AND SHINGLES. THE TEMPERATURE OF THE OUTSIDE AIR IS KEEPING THE SNOW FROM MELTING WHEN BELOW FREEZING. |
WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE CAN NOT OFFSET THE HEAT OF THE INSIDE TEMPERATURE THE SNOW BEGINS TO MELT. BECAUSE HEAT RISES, THE HIGHER YOU GO IN YOUR ATTIC THE HOTTER IT GETS AND THE LOWER YOU GO THE COOLER IT GETS. AND AS THE SNOW MELTS AND THE WATER RUNS DOWN THE ROOF IT COOLS DOWN AND BEGINS TO RE-FREEZE. AS MORE AND MORE WATER TRIES TO MAKE IT DOWN THE SLOPE IT IS TRAPPED AS IT REACHES THE FROZEN ICE THAT IS NOW FORMING AT THE COLDEST PORTION OF THE HOUSE (USUALLY ONE TO THREE FEET ABOVE THE GUTTER). AS THE DAYS PASS AND THE PROCESS CONTINUES THE ICE DAM INCREASES IN SIZE CREATING A BOWL. IF THE INSIDE TEMPERATURE OVER POWERS THE OUTSIDE INCREASING THE FLOW OF WATER THE BOWL WILL THEN FILL UP WITH WATER. THE LARGER THE DAM THE MORE WATER IT WILL HOLD ALLOWING WATER TO PENETRATE YOUR ROOFING MATERIAL. ICE SHIELD IN OUR EXPERIENCE MAKES LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF A ROOF WHEN ICE DAMS ARE PRESENT.( EVERY NAIL AND OR STAPLE THAT PENETRATES THE ICE SHIELD MATERIAL IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WATER TO ENTER YOUR HOME). HEAT TAPE IS IN MOST CASES NOT EFFECTIVE BECAUSE IT ONLY HEATS THE IMMEDIATE AREA THAT IT IS LAID. (IN OUR EXPERIENCE YOU WOULD HAVE TO COVER EVERY SQUARE INCH OF YOU ROOF TO GENERATE AND SUSTAIN ENOUGH HEAT TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE CONDUCIVE TO THE MAKING OF ICE DAMS) THE USE OF ICE MELTING CHEMICALS CAUSE MORE DAMAGE THAN DOING NOTHING AT ALL. THESE TYPES OF PRODUCTS ARE DAMAGING NOT ONLY TO YOUR ROOFING MATERIALS AND GUTTER, IT CAN KILL ANY LANDSCAPING PLANTS THAT IT COMES IN CONTACT WITH. ALTHOUGH THE GUTTER AND ROOFING INDUSTRY WOULD BENEFIT FROM CHOPPING THE ICE FROM YOUR ROOF AND GUTTERS THIS ALSO CAUSES MORE DAMAGE THAN DOING NOTHING AT ALL. HACKING HOLES IN YOUR GUTTERS AND SHINGLES CAN CAUSE HUNDREDS AND POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE. USING A WATER HOSE TO MELT THE ICE IS THE BEST WAY TO REMOVE IT WHEN DAMS HAVE ALREADY FORMED. IN OUR OPINION THE ONLY EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF ICE DAMS IS TO REMOVE THE SNOW FROM YOUR ROOF. |
HEAT LOSS |
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