How To Prevent Ice Dams In Winter
The winter season brings along with it snow covered roofs and an icy terrain. There is always a danger of snowmelt, which can result in ice dams, which are damaging to say the least. If the house is not insulated properly, homeowners can find them in a tight spot with an ice dam upstairs. Ice dams are caused when the heat from the attic melts the ice on the roof and the resulted melting water comes into the house.
The first and foremost thing to know is that we should not heat the roof, but keep it cool. This way, the snow on the roof will dissipate without becoming melted water pools. One way in which you can ensure that the temperature is low is by ensuring that there is enough insulation and sealing gaps that allow warm air to come into the attic from the house, cooling the place. The attic’s ventilation should be done in such a manner that the cold air comes in air and the warm or hot air goes out of the house.
One may find it tough to prevent ice dams if there is furnace in the attic. Better quality insulation in the form of insulating the area flanked by the roof rafters is a good way to start. Leave some gap between the insulation and the roof deck so that condensation buildup can be prevented. Just before insulation, you can install polystyrene rafter air channels. Then you can put blankets on top of the heating ducts of the furnace to reduce the heat buildup in the attic. If there is not enough movement of air to dissipate the heat, you can also install a power-driven vent at one end of the attic and another fairly sized vent towards the opposite site to bring in cold air from the outside.
There can be moisture on the ceiling due to the presence of ice dams on the roof. The dark lines in the ceiling are known as shadow lines. Having insulation in the attic floor may not mean that the trusses are adequately covered. They can be exposed to cold temperatures and can be at the receiving end of condensation. Then the moisture can ensnare the dust and cause mildew growth in the form of shadow lines. So, it is important to remove the mildew with bleach and warm water. Rinse the surface properly with water and then let it dry. In case, the surface has mildew presence or is discolored, you may need to paint again. Make sure that you apply a topcoat before going for a stain blocking primer.
