Ice damming can cause severe damage to your home. If you don’t prevent ice damming, it can tear off your gutters, loosen shingles, and cause water to back up under those shingles and drain into your home. Water that cannot drain off properly works its way under your roof covering and flows into the attic.
There are several ways to prevent ice damming
Many of these ways focus on controlling energy loss. In addition to eliminating ice dams, a “whole house” approach to improving energy efficiency can cut your total energy consumption. This could be up to 40%, saving considerably on utility bills.
Increase the amount of insulation in your attic
This is the number one way to prevent ice dams, by keeping heat from escaping to the roof deck and melting snow on the roof surface. Franklin County requires an R-30 insulation level, and Delaware County requires an R-38. The Department of Energy recommends from R-40 to R-60.
Install proper ventilation to prevent ice damming
Ventilation directs heat and moisture where they need to go. Install intake and exhaust vents to allow warm air in the attic to escape quickly. Make sure all bath fans and vents going into your attic are connected to pipes that protrude out of the roof and are flashed properly.
Install ice guard
For a new roof, install ice guard up the roof two feet from a warm wall. This usually can be accomplished with one course of ice guard. But some homes with large overhangs will need two courses.
Invest in heat tape
Most roofs can use heat tape, but you need the right product for the job. While most heat cables work on shingle roofs, only some work on metal roofs. Before you buy a product, make sure it works on your type of roof.
For more advice on preventing ice damming on your roof, or for assistance with the installation of any of these methods, call Muth & Company Roofing. We can help your roof to perform better while eliminating the headaches caused by ice damming.
Need the best roofing available in Columbus, OH, and surrounding communities? We’re the roofer who wants to earn your business. Call Muth & Company Roofing today at (614) 882-0900 for a FREE estimate, or fill out our contact form. We serve Columbus, Westerville, Delaware, Worthington, Dublin, Bexley, Gahanna, New Albany, and many other surrounding Central Ohio cities.