Why Icicles Can Be a Sign That Your Home Isn’t Energy Efficient
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of winter in Maryland or D.C.? Some of us think about icicles hanging from the gutters of our homes. Others may think of snow lying on the ground and on top the roof. However, icicles and too much snow can damage your roof. Icicles can be an indication that your roof is creating ice dams. Ice dams can be extremely hazardous and harmful.
Ice dams develop when heat escapes the home, heating the roof, causing snow to melt, slither off, and then freeze again when it hits the eaves. At first, this is a temporary problem. However, over time, when ice is stacked up against the roof, it leaves the dissipating snow nowhere to go. In fact, the odds of ice destroying shingles and the subsequent water leaks into the attic, resulting in significant water damage, are very high.
When heat escapes the home to thaw the ice resting on top of your roof, it’s an indication that your home is far from being energy efficient one. Well, the good news is that it’s not too late to start winterizing your home today. In fact, you may want to start by removing and replacing your existing attic insulation with spray foam insulation. That’s because spray foam insulation prevents air leakage as spray foam generates a strong air barrier wherever installed.
Are You Doing Anything to Save Your Roof and Attic?
When the conditions inside your attic are below freezing, snow on the roof will likely melt. When the snow melts and slides down the roof and hits the colder eaves, it refreezes. If the cycle repeats itself consistently over several days, the freezing snowmelt stacks up and creates a dam of ice, behind which water pools up into bigger puddles of water. The puddles of water can then clog up beneath the roof covering and leak into the attic or along exterior walls causing ice dams to form and water damage to occur.
Condensation of water vapor on freezing surfaces can cause wood to deteriorate and leads to water damage. Water damage leads to expensive repairs. In fact, traditional insulation begins to lose its R-value, mold or mildew develops on wet insulation and the roof’s shingles loosen.
When you insulate your attic with spray foam insulation, you minimize the risk of ice dam formation. The heat generated by your HVAC unit remains inside your home. A properly insulated attic reduces air loss. Finally, the odds of your house forming ice dams can be greatly limited. Contact the best spray foam insulation contractor serving the entire Maryland and Washington, D.C. area, Cameron Home Insulation today to discuss the different types of spray insulation options that are available to you this winter.
