What causes an ice dam?

When snow accumulates on your roof, the combination of heat escaping from your attic and the insulation provided by the piling snow melts the bottom layer. That melted snow then runs down the roof into your gutters. Because your gutters hang away from the warmth of your home, the water freezes. When the gutters fill with ice, water runs over the gutter edges and icicles form. In fact, icicles are a clear warning sign that ice dams could be building. Ice dams can even form above the gutters on roof sections that are not above the main structure of your home.

How do ice dams cause damage?

When the ice in the gutters reaches a thickness that prevents water from flowing freely over the edges, water begins to pool and back up the roof. Once that happens, the water will find any opening it can and seep into ceilings and run down walls. That moisture can damage the interior of your home while it's still cold or cause rotting and mold once the weather warms.

How can I prevent ice damming?

Ice dams are caused by the fact that the temperature of your roof is above freezing due to heat escaping into and staying inside your attic. An Alpine Energy Solutions expert can help you pinpoint the cause of your ice dams and suggest solutions. And that's just one of the many things an Alpine Energy Solutions expert rater can help you with.

How else can an Alpine Energy Solutions expert help me?

Alpine Energy Solutions expert raters conduct thorough Home Performance with ENERGY STAR analyses to make sure your home is as safe, comfortable, and efficient as it can be. Find full details within this Web site.