How To Avoid Ice Dams With A Vented Roof

These can cause respiratory problems.

How to avoid ice dams with a vented roof.

Prevent the growth of mold and mildew by immediately drying out portions of the house that are wet or damp. And some sections of the roof may be impossible to keep cold. Take immediate action to get rid of the water source clean the home environment and maintain its air quality. One of the easiest long term solutions to prevent ice dams is to minimize the impact of the warm air that contributes to ice dam formation on your roof.

Another reason why you want to keep the insulation blankets away from the edges and interior walls of the roof in your attic is because it actually helps to keep them warmer which helps prevent ice dams from forming on the eaves of the roof. Getting rid of ice dams for good is simple in principle. You may need to install an outdoor gfi grounded outlet if you don t have one. That s when you have to call on secondary strategies and ice dam prevention products to prevent ice dam damage.

Solving the root cause. One effective way to stop the warm air from escaping into the attic is to use a proper insulation on the attic floor. Air sealing first insulation second. Here are 4 ways to either prevent or deal with ice dams on your roof.

The way to stop ice dams from forming is to keep the entire roof cold. Install gutter heaters gutter heaters are installed to melt ice as it moves close to the gutters. Ice and water barrier is a type of self sealing underlayment that adheres to the roof decking and waterproofs it. Improving ventilation and reducing heat sources against the inside roof surface are the best ways to prevent ice dams but if these methods aren t practical then it is possible to install electric heat cable along the edge of the roof line and gutters.

Moisture entering the home from ice dams can lead to the growth of mold and mildew. Just keep the entire roof the same temperature as the eaves. In hot climates the roof temperature will be much higher on an un vented roof resulting in shorter shingle life. You do that by increasing ventilation adding insulation and sealing off every possible air leak that might warm the underside of the roof.

Run special ice dam prevention products adhesive ice and water barrier from 3 to 6 ft. The use of icynene on the attic floor to completely air seal is a good idea and should be the first step. Preventing ice dams with electric heat cable. In most homes this means blocking all air leaks leading to the attic from the living space below increasing the thickness of insulation on the attic floor and installing a continuous soffit and ridge vent system.

Venting is a minor player in ice dam prevention but is necessary for heat and moisture management. Up the roof from the edge the next time you reroof fig.