3 Things You Can Do Now To Prevent Ice Damming On Your Roof This Winter

Colorado is known for its beautiful snowfalls and warm sunny days in the winter and this year seems to be no exception.  In fact, we have seen record numbers of snow fall and below freezing temperatures in January more than any other year in the recent past.  This kind of weather can be brutal on your home and is cause for concern when it comes to your roof.  The most common problem we see is known as “ice damming”.

Ice damming happens when snow and ice build up on a roof and it begins to melt into the downspouts and gutters, where it will freeze at night.  After a few thaw and freeze days, it begins to build up and block the flow of water.  Eventually, the water has to go somewhere so it will work its way back up under the shingles and onto the roof.  This can lead to leaks and permanent damage to the roof.

Here are 3 things you can do to prevent an ice damming nightmare this winter.

1. Make sure the gutters and the downspouts are clean before the snow starts to fall for the winter.
2. If you get a large snow dump, try to pull as much snow off the roof as you can without risking injury by using a snow rake.
3. On north facing surfaces that don’t get a lot of sun, you can add a heat cable that simply plugs into an outlet and runs through the gutters and up onto the roof. The cable stays warm to prevent the ice from forming in the gutters and downspouts.

If you find that your roof is leaking due to ice damming, try to clean as much of the snow and ice from the roof as possible without risking injury. Then call Rock Canyon Roofing for a free damage inspection and recommendations for repair and prevention.