Ice Dams

12/30/2021 (Permalink)

Diagram of ice dam on a roof

During the early months of 2021 Central Louisiana was experiencing some strong winter storms. As a result, our community experienced ice dams. What are ice dams? Literally what it sounds like. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents water from draining off the roof. This causes water to refreeze. Because of the ice dam the water is unable to drain properly. It will then back flow through your shingles and into your home causing damage to walls, ceiling, insulation and other areas.

Moisture entering the home from ice dams can lead to the growth of mold and mildew. Check out our blogs on How To Prevent Mold  and How To Spot Mold. If not remediated properly mold  can cause health issues.

So what causes ice dams? Non-uniform roof surface temperatures. When snow goes through high temperatures it will melt into water. When said water slides down and goes through low temperatures (32F) it freezes and turns into ice, creating a frozen ridge on the roof. The dam will continue to grow as the snow keeps melting. However, it will limit itself to the area that is below 32F. The rest of the water remains as a liquid and finds its way through the ceiling into the attic which could lead into exterior walls or ceiling insulation. 

If you experience some water damage due to ice dams, don't hesitate to call us at (318) 427-7511. SERVPRO of Alexandria is here and ready to help Cenla!

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