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Ice Dam Prevention Tips

Written by jsolloway on . Posted in , .

Ice dams. The two words strung together are enough to put fear in the heart of New Englanders, and rightfully so. Ice dams are caused by icicles and frozen water damaging the gutter and loosening shingles. The result is water backing up into the house which can leave behind extensive damage. The damage can be repaired by a team like the restoration professionals at Soil-Away, but the best course of action is to take the necessary steps to prevent ice dams from even forming.
It may be surprising, but a leading cause of ice dams is a warm roof. Snow melting off of the roof and then refreezing can be a big contributor. Taking some necessary steps to keep your roof colder can go a long way to reducing this risk.

Close attic gaps.

Much of a home’s heat is lost through gaps in the attic, from holes in the drywall and cracks around light fixtures to gaps around pipes and the chimney. Sealing up these leaks and fortifying the insulation in the attic can go a long way to keeping the heat inside, and the roof cooler.

Attic ventilation.

Continuous air flow in the attic can cool the area and the roof. Adding roof and soffit vents can create the level of ventilation that you need to prevent ice dams, keeping the roof temperature cool.

Removing snow.

Roof rakes can be effective in moving snow off of the roof before it has a chance to melt. After a large snowfall, take the time to remove as much snow as possible from the roof.

Keep gutters free of debris.

Cleaning gutters in the fall and early winter, removing leaves and other debris, can ensure that they are working properly. This reduces the risk of the gutter becoming clogged and causing a problem during the coldest winter months.

Heated cables.

For homeowners that have experienced ice dams in the past, you may want to consider heated cables. These cables clip along the edge or the roof in zigzag patterns and can prevent ice dams from forming.

Be proactive.

If you see an ice dam beginning to form, you can apply an ice melt product or calcium chloride to the ice.
The best course of action to prevent ice dams is to seal the home’s heat inside, particularly in the attic. Being vigilant to watch for any sign of ice dams forming early on can go a long way to minimizing the damage.
If your home is damaged by ice dams, the team at Soil-Away is ready to help. We are available 24/7, 365 days a year. Call 603-641-6555.

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Jay KorsenJay Korsen
00:51 04 Aug 22
All I have to say is WOW and FANTASTIC. I just got done building out my new professional office with Soil-Away’s construction division and they went ABOVE and BEYOND. Scott and Mike, the carpenters are skilled artisans. The project got done on time and the project came in on budget! The finished results have been blowing people away. Much better than I could have anticipated. Anyone is welcome to come to our office, Bright Light Chiropractic in Hooksett to check out the fine work they did. Simply can’t sing enough praises for them. Sorry that the picture doesn’t do the job justice. Thank you Jack and your team. -Dr. Jay
Asian BreezeAsian Breeze
04:28 15 Jul 22
Since day one, I’ve known the owner, Jack, to be a hard-working and selfless leader. Through the efforts of him and his team, he was able to restore my flooded restaurant to tip-top shape. I was amazed with Jack’s orderliness throughout the entire process. Jack has proven to me that he is trustworthy, as both a friend and an individual in the work environment.
Breton LangendorferBreton Langendorfer
21:17 07 Jul 22
Highly recommend Soil-Away. A pipe in our upstairs bathroom gave and sent water down through a wall for at least a day before we noticed water dripping through our kitchen ceiling. Our insurance put us in touch with Soil-Away and they were at our house the next morning to assess the damage and dry things out. Joe, Ray and Tom were phenomenal to work with. They explained every part of the process to us and were very professional and friendly. If you have to deal with similar issues call Soil-Away, you won’t regret it.
Maureen CidzikMaureen Cidzik
13:49 15 May 22
Superior service from start to finish. Highly responsive. The entire team is dedicated to quality and customer care and it shows in everything they do – from first call, to estimate, to job completion.
Sarah GrugnaleSarah Grugnale
16:02 14 Jan 22
Joe and Tommy were amazing to deal with, they kept us updated every step of the process. They were punctual and hard working, answering all of our questions that we had. Everything was done as promised and even above and beyond. A great experience from start to finish.
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