A Complete Guide to Ice Dams for the Minnesota Homeowner

If you live in Minnesota, you know that the cold weather and winter storms can be hardcore, and they can impact your roofing, siding, and more. One major issue for Minnesota homes is ice dams. These ice dams build up along the edge of rooftops in the winter. And, while they might look like a bunch of icicles, they can quickly become a huge problem.

In this guide from Apple Exteriors, you'll learn everything you need to know about ice dams, how to spot them, how to remove them, and how to prevent them.

What Do Ice Dams Look Like?

Ice dams are a bunch of circles of ice, usually in a mass that looks almost like a wall. It usually isn't a problem if you see an icicle around your gutters. But, if icicles are hanging down the eaves of your roof, this could lead to potential safety risks and property damage.

How Do Ice Dams Form?

Ice dams usually form from insufficient insulation in attics. This makes the attic and roof too warm, so the snow on the roof will melt. Then, the snow will start to run off and turn to ice again, collecting on eaves and gutters.

Once ice forms around gutters, it blocks all runoff and leads to more and more ice and snow building up on the roof. Too much build up weighs down the roof and gutters and will eventually cause them to collapse. Additionally, when water can’t escape through the gutters, it will seep through shingles and into the inner roofing, attic, ceiling, and even walls causing water damage.

This is a big issue because ice dams can pull off shingles, create mold, cause leaks, and more damage. Plus, they can potentially fall and hit people or pets.

Why Professionals Need To Remove Ice Dams

While you might be tempted to try to push these ice dams off yourself, this isn't the best idea. It's a safety hazard to get up on a rooftop in the winter, and you could also end up causing further damage to your roof. Instead, let roof repair professionals clear out the problem.

Professional ice dam removers use specialized equipment that steams off ice dams quickly and safely. Steam effectively removes all ice and snow from roofs so your roof gets a clean slate anytime in the winter.

Preventing Future Ice Dams

If you end up with ice dams, it's safe to let the Apple Exteriors experts remove them. But, you can also prevent them from forming now or in the future. The best way to prevent ice dams is to seal up leaks in the attic and ensure the attic is well-insulated. If you need help with attic insulation for your roofing system, we can help with that, too.

Why You Should Choose Apple Exteriors To Remove Ice Dams

At Apple Exteriors, we use a specialized tool called the Arctic Steamer to remove these dangerous and challenging roofing problems. The steamer uses high-heat water at low pressure, enabling all ice dam elements to melt without damaging your roof.

Call us today at 651-36-APPLE (651-362-7753) to learn more about ice dam removal or to get assistance with any roofing problem.