An ice dam is a formation that occurs on the overhang of a roof when melted ice hits already cold eaves and re freezes. The build up of this causes an ice dam and prevents any other water from draining. This can cause severe damage to the roof and may also provide a safety hazard for people who are walking in and around the area. People who live in colder climates and who are exposed to these hazards employ various manual labor solutions to rectify this situation or some people ignore the issue and hope that there are no repercussions. Ignoring this can be very dangerous and should not be done. However, manual solutions to this can be equally dangerous and time consuming.

When living in cold climates where there is ice and snow, the snow will fall onto the roof. The sun or warmth from rooms below will heat the snow and cause the snow to melt. This will then drip down the roof to hit the eaves. Since the eaves are already cold, the water re freezes. The water accumulates, blocking the drainage points causing more and more water to accumulate. Eventually the water will spill over causing large icicles and a mass of ice. If you try to chip away or melt the ice manually, you may be at risk of falling and hurting yourself. Not only harming yourself but you will also have to spend a lot of time doing it which is tiresome and highly inconvenient.

If an ice dam forms, there is a danger to people and animals. If the ice dam accumulates to where it is heavy, it is possible that ice can fall off. If the ice itself falls off it can hit a person or animal who is under it and cause severe injury and even death. The overhangs of the roof can form an ice dam and the entire gutter or shingles can fall off, causing injury. Children and animals can be especially susceptible to these dangers as they are smaller and may not be as aware of the impending dangers as an adult would be. If children are outside playing in the snow and inadvertently get too close to the house, they can be hurt from falling ice or breaking roof parts.

The house and roof can also be damaged by ice dams. Additional melted ice then has no place to go and continues to accumulate. Since there is no place for the additional ice to drain, the weight of the accumulated ice dam gets to be so heavy that it can cause the gutter to fall away from the house. The expense of having to replace the gutters can be extensive. There may also be roof damage causing the home owner to have to replace roof shingles. However, single roof shingle replacement is the lower end of the spectrum. There is also a possibility that you may have to replace the entire roof much earlier than a roof should be replaced. A roof should last for at least ten years on the minimum. A roof that is exposed to continual ice dams will retain more damage and cause the roof to need to be replaced much sooner that should typically be warranted.

If an ice dam occurs, the melting water has nowhere to go. It will continually build up and can seep into the home and then melt. The result is water leaking in the interior of the home. If it is excessive this can damage interior furniture and flooring. On the lesser side, there will be ceiling damage and you may need to replace ceiling tiles or entire ceilings. In either situation, the homeowner is looking at a lot of expense in order to rectify the damage. Unfortunately, if damage occurs, it is often not able to be worked on until all the ice and snow has melted, making the living conditions in the home highly uncomfortable.

A roof de icing solution is the perfect solution for an ice dam. These units are custom designed to the specifications of your home and the climate for which you reside. It will eliminate an ice dam formation and can save thousands of dollars in the long run. Preventing injury to your family and beloved pets is the most important reason for using a mechanism to help with an ice dam. However, the potential for home and property damage is also a primary consideration when thinking about an ice dam and prevention of one.