Ice Dam Build Up in Cincinnati

This year, we've experienced a particularly severe winter with abundant snow and ice. Homeowners are noticing the effects of ice dams, which can lead to ceiling leaks or even cause gutters to detach due to the heavy ice. In this post, we will outline three types of solutions: emergency remediation, medium-term fixes, and long-term or permanent solutions.

Short-Term / Emergency Remediation

1. Roof Clearing - remove snow and ice where possible. Carefully breaking ice and removing snow above the ice dam should be the focus. This can be dangerous, so it is not recommended without professional help and safety gear. Clearing the ice can alleviate urgent leaks and removing nearby snow will help reduce the amount of future ice build up.

2. Calcium Chloride "Ice Socks" - fill socks with calcium chloride socks and place (or throw) up to the ice dam area. This will melt a channel for water to runoff. Make sure you have gutter guards or quickly remove the socks after they do their job so they don't fall in and clog your downspouts. Typical driveway salt can be bad for landscaping and cause steel metal components to rust, which includes the nails that hold down your shingles. It may seem fine but several years from now your roof will thank you for paying attention to detail.

Medium-Term Fix

1. Heat cables / heat trace / heat tape - These are helpful for keeping the areas clear from build up. They work by being installed along your gutter, often in a zig-zag pattern 3 or so feet up your roof and stay heated to melt ice and snow. They do require a good amount of electricity to run, so it requires active plugging and unplugging, or you can get ones with sensors that only come on when it senses moisture. The downside is they aren't a fine aesthetic by any means. These treat the symptoms and not the actual causes, which is why they fall under a medium-term fix.

Long-Term / Perminent Fixes

1. Air Sealing your attic - Ice dams form because warm air from the house leaks into the attic and melts snow unevenly, then refreezes at the gutter line where it is exposed to the cold outside air. If you are in Cincinnati, great employee-owned companies like Sustainergy are able to help with this and know exactly what little details to look for that make a big difference. I will include their website link at the bottom of this page.

2. Improve attic insulation - this is another way to help keep the warm air from your house where it should be. It also will help you save on your energy bills every month. If your insulation is more than 20 years old, has gotten wet from a roof leak or bathroom fan not venting properly, it is worth having a professional out to assess what could help you and your home. Another rule of thumb is if you can see your ceiling joists in the attic, heat is being transferred through the 2x4s and escaping your home, wasting energy and costing you money. Your attic needs more insulation if this is the case. Sustainergy can also help with insulation.

3. Proper attic ventilation - this helps keep the attic temperature consitent in the space and coinsistent with outside temperature, which not only helps prevent ice dams, it also prevents mold growth, helps your shingles last their full lifetime and is even required by ALL shingle manufacturers for your warranty to be valid. If you get a new roof replacement with Zion Home Roofing & Siding you can be confident we take the time to make sure your ventilation system is adequate and brought up to code and also have ice and water barrier underlayment to prevent leaks from ice dams.

4. Gutter & Downspout management - this is essential to make sure no water builds up where it can freeze. Be sure to have your gutters and downspouts inspected and cleaned - we recommend twice a year, in the fall and spring. Gutter guards also help protect against debris that could clog up your gutter and cause all sorts of problems. At Zion Home Roofing & Siding, we install high grade/high quality gutter guards at affordable prices. We understand it is important to your home and your peace of mind and we want to help!

We hope this article is helpful for you to DIY the issues you're currently having or to help you prevent issues in the future! If we can be of any service to you please don't hesitate to call or text us. We are honored to be trusted by so many homeowners and families in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area.

Sustainergy Cooperative - https://www.sustainergy.coop