Do icicles tend to hang from your eaves in cold, wet weather? The Wichita area may not get a ton of snow and ice. But even a little can lead to ice dams — and icicles are one sign of them.

These frozen blockages can wind up causing water damage and other problems. But you can take some steps to stop the risk of having these dams form. Our team at Comfort Systems offers the following helpful info on this winter woe for Wichita homeowners!

Why Do They Happen?

Let’s first consider what they are. These blockages are big ice chunks that you might see near the edges of your roof. How do they form? When you’ve got snow that melts unevenly on your roof, some of it drips toward your gutters quicker than the rest. If overnight temperatures drop low enough, this snow freezes up again close to the eaves.

When this happens over and over, you end up with ice dams. But what causes them in the first place? The main culprits are usually:

  • Ventilation: If your roof and attic aren’t well-ventilated, snow tends to melt unevenly.
  • Insulation: If your attic isn’t insulated enough, snow in some areas can melt faster than other areas of your roof.

What Kinds of Damage Can Ice Dams Cause?

When you have these blocks of ice, you can have any of the following types of damage:

  • Water damage from water seeping through shingles into your home
  • Structural damage to your roof from the weight of the ice
  • Gutter damage, such as bent or dented gutters
  • Damage to other parts of your roof, such as fascia and soffits

How Can You Prevent Ice Dams?

You can take these steps to stop melted snow from refreezing and forming blockages.

Clean Gutters

Make sure melted snow has a way to get off your roof and to the ground through your gutters. Are they clogged with leaves? Give them a good cleaning to clear a path.

Install Heat Cables

This isn’t the easiest way to prevent ice dams — but it can be highly effective. Place these cables along the edges of your roof, then plug them in. The heat they generate helps keep water from freezing up at the eaves.

Clear Snow With Roof Rakes

Don’t let a pile of snow sit on your roof, or you risk having blocks of ice build up at the edges. But don’t climb up on your roof to clear it away! Instead, get a roof rake to push snow off and onto the ground.

Insulate the Attic

Is your attic insulated enough? It may not be, but it’s not always easy to tell. Our experts can check for you and add insulation if needed. Putting in more insulation helps ensure more even melting — lowering your risk of an ice dam.

Improve Attic Ventilation

Your roof may need another vent or two — or possibly more. Adding soffit and roof vents can help improve ventilation in your attic, allowing snow to melt evenly and prevent it from freezing up at roof edges.

Stop Air Leaks

You may not realize you have air leaking from your home. But it can make a big difference when it comes to your risk of ice blockages. Seal up any areas that could be allowing heated air to leak from your attic, such as:

  • Openings around pipes and vents
  • Gaps around chimneys and flashing
  • Cracks or gaps around other roof penetrations

Putting a stop to these leaks doesn’t just prevent ice dam formation — it helps you use less energy for heating your home!

Upgrade Your Insulation for Winter with Comfort Systems

Not sure if your attic is well-insulated? Our HVAC team can help! Call us to set up a service call for insulation before colder weather and snow move into the Wichita area for the winter!

Posted in Air Filter, Blog, Service & Maintenance