Have you heard of an ice dam?
An ice dam is a wall of ice that forms at the edge of the roof. This happens when the heat from within the house starts to melt the snow that is on the roof. Once the snow begins to melt, the water runs down and refreezes at the edge of the roof. As this continues, the ice builds up and causes a backup and doesn’t allow the water to drain off the roof.
There are some ways to help prevent ice dams from forming.
Make sure your gutters are cleaned out. If there are leaves, sticks and other debris in the gutters, water isn’t able to freely flow in the gutters.
Consider having gutter guards installed on your home. This prevents debris from ending up in your gutters in the first place.
Make sure that your attic is well ventilated. If your attic becomes too warm from the heat your furnace produces, it will cause your roof to be ‘warm’. When this happens, the snow melts at a faster rate than normal and can be the cause of ice dams.
You should have your shingles checked to ensure that they are properly installed and are not broken.
If you have had this problem in the past, and are considering repairing or installing a new roof, you might consider having ice & water shield installed at the gutter line by a certified roofer.