What Causes Ice Dams?
One of the most common questions this time of year is, "What Causes Ice Dams?"
- Properly seal penetrations such as can lights
- Bath and kitchen vent hoses must be insulated and venting properly through the roof
- Make sure there are unobstructed air chutes installed between each rafter in your attic (this allows cold air from outside to move into the attic)
- Make sure you have adequate exhaust ventilation (various styles exist) near the ridge or “peak” of roof
- Remove snow from your roof or hire us to remove it professionally (be sure to not damage your shingles in the process). Even with properly ventilated attics and properly insulated attics, you can still get mild ice dams depending on the variables that are at play.
- Ensure there aren't any areas within your attic where air is getting trapped
- Insulate the floor of the knee-wall and the outer unfinished wall of the upstairs living space to resist heat transfer into the knee-wall area
- Install gable vents on each end of the knee-wall space
- Install spray foam insulation (leaving an airspace of 1" - 1.5") in roof area between knee-wall and upper ridge section