Ice Dams in Dayton: Why They Form and What Helps
Dayton's winters bounce above and below freezing, and snow often melts and refreezes several times a season. That's ideal ice dam weather.
Request a rooferHow an ice dam forms
Heat escaping into the attic warms the roof boards. Snow on the upper roof melts, water runs down to the cold overhang and freezes. The ridge of ice grows until meltwater pools behind it and seeps under the shingles.
Signs you have one
A thick band of ice along the eaves, heavy icicles, stains on ceilings or walls near the outside of the house during a thaw, and wet attic insulation.
What to avoid
Don't chip ice with tools, throw salt on the roof or climb an icy ladder. Each can damage shingles or cause a fall.
Short-term help
A roof rake with a long handle can pull snow off the lower few feet of roof from the ground. Keep gutters and downspouts clear before winter.
Lasting fixes
Seal air leaks into the attic around light fixtures, bath fans and the attic hatch, add insulation, and make sure eave and ridge vents are clear. When reroofing, ask about ice-and-water membrane at the eaves.
More help
See ice dams and winter damage.
Where to start
If you only fix one thing, look at air leaks around the attic hatch, recessed lights and plumbing stacks. Sealing them is cheap and often makes the biggest difference to how warm the roof deck gets.
Is the roof the problem?
Usually not. Ice dams are mostly an attic problem: heat getting where it shouldn't. A roofer can repair the damage, but insulation and air sealing stop it coming back.
After the thaw
Once the ice melts, check ceilings, walls and the attic for damp. Wet insulation loses much of its value and should dry out or be replaced, and stained decking is worth having a roofer look at.
More roofing guides
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