Tips to Prevent Ice Dams next winter
Maintenance is the best medicine, be sure that you or a contractor checks your attic insulation, make sure that all heat is blocked from coming up through the ceiling or around pipes.
Be sure that your attic has correct ventilation
This should be done especially in the fall, as a preventive measure.
Install electric heating coils and be sure they are turned on before a storm
Clear your roof of snow as soon as possible after a snowstorm. be sure you remove it evenly.
Roof rakes can be purchased., If you do not want to do it yourself snow plow contractors might handle the roof raking for you.
If you have a management company, in a condominium, be sure that they do preventive maintenance and check your attic before fall
All condominiums and single family homes should have preventive measures taken from day one on the exterior of the buildings including roof, gutters, spouts, driveways, doors, windows, shingles, siding, etc. Strong winds in summer in New England can do as much damage as the ice dams in winter, if maintenance is let go.
Often people do not realize that if your house has a side exposed to a lot of sun , the paint will fade on that side faster than on the other side of the house. On the other hand, if the house faces north, you could have a bigger problem with ice dams, because the freezing begins quicker on the north side of the house, building up and then lifting shingles.
There are many contractors who specialize in remodeling that will give you a price on taking care of spring and summer check ups for your home, preventive maintenance is often less expensive than a big repair.
