Severe Ice Build-up
When snow on the roof is melted by heat escaping from the attic, the melted snow re-freezes when it reaches the cold gutter and soffit area, causing ice damming on the roof of your home. This can result in water leaking in the attic, causing unnecessary and costly damage.
Thick Icicles on the Roof
Thick icicles hanging from roof eaves indicates a serious ice dam.
Frozen Eaves
Large icicles forming around the gutters can cause damage to the gutters and soffits which can lead to water leaking into your home.
Heat Escaping From the Attic Forms Ice Dams
This snow-covered roof may look nice, but icicles are a sign of energy loss through the attic. This means unnecessarily inflated fuel and heating costs and could lead to roof damage from ice dams.
Icicles Hanging From Gutters
Do you have icicles hanging from your gutters? When heat escaping from the attic warms the roof and melts the snow, the cold eaves re-freeze the water runoff, forming icicles like the ones seen here.
Ice Dams and Icicles on the Siding
When melting snow accumulates behind the ice dam, it can push its way back up under the shingles. It can also run down behind the clogged gutters and freeze on the siding, causing potential siding damage.
Big Icicles can Cause Big Damage
The icicles hanging from this roof are so big they have reached the satellite dish and are forming there, as well! Large icicles like this can cause severe damage to the exterior of your home and lead to physical injury from falling ice.
Roof Architecture Can Contribute to Ice Dams
The architecture of this roof has contributed to the formation of thick icicles at the corner. Properly air sealing and insulating the attic can help prevent the development of ice dams and unnecessary roof and gutter damage.
Heavy Snowfall and Ice Dams
Ice dams typically form after a heavy snowfall when heat from the home leaks up into the attic, which warms the roof and melts the snow. The melted snow flows down the roof and re-freezes at the cold gutter and eaves. The solution is to have the attic air-sealed and well insulated to keep the heated air in your home where it belongs!
Falling Icicles
Take a look at how large these icicles are. A huge chunk of falling ice can cause serious physical injury or property damage.
Small Icicles are Common
Small icicles on the roof are normal, but it's important to watch for signs of ice damming to prevent damage to your home.
Uneven Snow Melt
If there are areas of your roof where the snow has melted and others that haven't, this is a sign of inadequate insulation in your attic. The spots that have melted indicate that your heated air has leaked up into the attic and warmed the roof.
Sign of an Under-Insulated Attic
Here is another example of an improperly insulated or air-sealed attic. In this case, the heated air from the home seems to be warming the ridge vent area. This, as we've discussed, can lead to ice dams, possible roof damage and leaks.
