Plymouth Michigan Ice Dam Prevention
If you’ve ever been to Plymouth, Michigan in the winter, you have likely seen ice dams build up on the edge of some buildings. The icicles that form can be gorgeous, but 4 foot long sabers of death really don’t appeal to me.
Michigan winters can run the gamut of extremes in a couple of days, let alone weeks. A such, there is a lot of concern and attention paid to those icicles and ice dams building over our gutters. Here is a brief tip sheet on identifying and implementing ice dam protection for your home.
Check for Ice Dams
Some are worse than others, but most winters create conditions that are ideal for ice dams. Melting snow on the upper portion of the roof refreezes at the bottom.
WHAT | Check for ice dams |
WHEN | When there is snow on the roof and the temperature is a few degrees below freezing. |
WHY | Ice dams will cause a perfectly good roof to leak. Considerable damage can occur to interior finishes. Concealed damage also can occur within exterior walls. |
Ice dams are more common on:
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Electric heating cables can be installed along the eaves to prevent ice dams; however they are only effective if they are turned on before snow and ice accumulate. Ironically, these cables can provide more opportunity for leakage because they have to be secured through the roof covering. | |
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