2 Tips For Preventing Ice Dams On Your Home's Roof
As winter weather approaches, you may be worried that the harsh conditions will damage your roof, especially if you have problems with ice dams forming along the edges. If this is the case, there are a couple of things that you can do on a regular basis that can help prevent the formation of ice dams so that you can help maintain your roof's overall condition.
1. Check and Clean Out Your Gutters Periodically
One way you can help prevent ice dam formation on the edges of your home's shingled roof is to check and clean out your gutters periodically during the winter months. This should especially be done after snow or ice has fully melted off of the roof, as it can carry and deposit leaves, pine needles, and other debris in your gutters.
If your gutters become clogged up, any water that has run into them and is still standing will freeze. As more water, ice, and/or snow runs down to the gutters, it will start to build up, forming the base of the ice dam and potentially damaging the gutters and the edges of the roof.
However, do not attempt to clean out your gutters during or directly after a winter storm because the surfaces will be slick. If there is a problem with large ice dams because of clogged gutters, you should call a professional to take care of them for you.
2. Use a Roof Rake to Remove Snow From the Edges of Your Roof
Another maintenance task you can perform to help keep ice dams from forming is to use a roof rake to remove any snow from the edges of your roof. Snow that is left on the edges of the roof will eventually melt during the day and freeze at night.
When this melting and freezing process occurs, the dams of ice will form and grow. Keeping a few feet around the edges of the roof cleared can help prevent them.
The long-handled rake can be used if you have a one-story building. Otherwise, you should not attempt to do the removal yourself because of an increased risk of injury.
While maintaining your roof in the winter to keep ice dams from forming and damaging the shingles is essential, you may find it difficult to keep up with the tasks yourself, or the dams may still form no matter what you do and cause breakage of the edges. In either case, you may need to call on a professional to take of your home's roof for you. Contact a residential roofing service to discuss your needs.
