3 Tips For Ice Dam Prevention

If you've lived in the Wayland area for any length of time, you're probably very familiar with ice dams, and the kind of damage they can inflict on your home during the winter months. When it comes to protecting your home during the winter months, ice dam prevention is one of the best things you can do for your home. In an effort to help you keep your roof protected from the damage ice dams can cause this winter season, our team of skilled Wayland roofing contractors has taken the time to put together this short list containing several helpful tips to help you prevent ice dams and ensure the safety of your roof and your home this winter.

Use An Ice Rake

One of the best ways to prevent ice dams from forming is to simply make sure that you're removing the snow from your roof before it has a chance to melt and freeze again, and a roof rake can be an invaluable tool to help you do so. A roof rake is essentially a long rake with a flat shovel-like end that will allow you to safely pull snow off of your roof while standing safely on the ground. While a roof rake isn't going to be the most effective tool to remove ice once it has formed, it's one of the most effective options for removing fresh snow, and every bit of fresh snow that you remove from your roof is less potential water that could either continue to freeze and form an ice dam or leak down into your home once a dam has formed.

Install Heat Cables

Another method of helping to prevent ice dams from forming or helping to break up their formation once they do. Electric heat cables are generally something that a professional can help you install along the edge of your roof that can help to melt any snow that lingers along the edge of your roof before it is able to freeze and form an ice dam. While there are DIY kits and options for electric heat cables out there, it is generally a much more effective and safer option to call in a professional and have them take care of the installation for you as icy roofs can be quite treacherous.

Call In A Professional

If you already have ice dams forming along the edge of your roof, or you notice that you have water leaking into your attic, the time for preventative measures is likely over, and it's time to call in the professionals. A professional roofer can help you break up and remove any ice dams that might have formed and help you install preventative measures that can help to prevent them from forming again. A roofing contractor will also be able to assess the measure of damage to your roof or your attic if you already have water that's leaked in and help you keep any damages to the absolute minimum.