New Roof Ice Dam Leak

This is a precursor to a certain leak and is only a matter of time before it reaches the inside of your home.

New roof ice dam leak.

Whatever you do install a water repellant membrane under any new roofing. Or you can replace the bottom three feet or so of your shingle roof with a wide metal drip edge. Snow builds up on the. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home and cause damage to walls ceilings insulation and other areas.

The cold air will freeze the water. From the attic check the underside of the roof sheathing and roof trim for moisture in the area beneath the dam. As that builds up it can actually cause standing water above the dam which can get under the shingles and into the attic and walls. When that blocked water from melted snow or ice cannot escape off of the roof it can accumulate and can back up to a depth that causes the water to find an opening to leak into the building.

Moisture entering the home from ice dams can lead to the growth of mold and mildew. It melts the ice away without damaging the roofing. Providing a drainage path for such water accumulations is one way to stop ice dam leaks dead in their tracks. If you have leakage from an ice dam and can t rake the snow off the roof the best way to get rid of the ice dam is to hire a roofing company to steam it off.

Even when there are no obvious roof leaks you ll want to carefully inspect your roof gutters when you discover an ice dam. In addition take a look at the insulation and see if it s damp. These photos and comments describe the diagnosis and cure of roof ice dam leakage occurring on a steep sloped roof in a new york home. Effects of ice dams.

A steamer is like a pressure washer except that the water is hot. Apply calcium chloride or another ice melting product onto the ice. Water and ice dripping out of soffits windows and siding is actually coming from the underside or inside of your roof sheeting or vapor barrier. There is a single cause for ice dams and the subsequent leaks.

If your roof is not very steep an ice dam can still form on metal roofing and drip edges. Place a box fan in the attic and direct it at the underside of the roof where water is leaking in. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow water from draining off the roof. Since the eave is not over heated space it is cold so the water freezes and makes a dam.

Most likely the first notice you will see of a snow or ice related roof leak will be water dripping from a ceiling or a puddle on the floor. If an ice dam has formed here are immediate steps you can take to help prevent further damage.