In the winter months, it’s not uncommon for snow and icicles to cover the roof of your home. But did you know this snow could actually be causing damage to your roof?
When the snow on your roof melts and refreezes at the edge in a large block of ice, you’re dealing with an ice dam. These form when temperatures in your attic are warm enough to heat up the roof and melt snow. Over time, the water from ice dams backs up under your shingles and penetrates the roof, causing a roof leak. These roof leaks can cause serious harm to your home in the form of water damage, roof damage, mold growth, and structural decay.
Signs That Snow Is Causing Your Roof to Leak
If you notice any of these signs following heavy snows, you should act fast to see if there’s an ice dam on your roof causing the issue. Until the snow and ice is removed from your roof, it will continue to leak.
1 – Moisture in the Attic
If you go into your attic and notice moisture it can be a sign that the roof is leaking. When you see condensation or water stains, be sure to investigate further. It’s likely that attic insulation is affected by the leak and may be wet to the touch. Since ice dams cause leaks in the roof, the attic is the first place moisture would be found.
2 – Ceiling Water Stains
Once the roof leak has gone past the attic of your home, water will begin to seep into the ceilings of your living space. Water stains on ceilings are brown, discolored areas that grow larger over time.
3 – Bubbling or Chipping Paint
As the water from the ice dam leaks into your home, it may begin to penetrate the walls of your living space. When moisture gets behind walls, it causes paint and wallpaper to bubble or chip away.
4 – Mold Growth
Wherever there is moisture, there’s likely to be mold. Mold grows and thrives on moisture. This means that roof leaks caused by snow may produce mold growth on walls, ceilings, or in the attic where the leak originated. When you find mold, be sure not to ignore the source of it or else it will continue to grow and spread around your home.
5 – Buckling Walls, Floors, or Ceilings
When a roof leak occurs in your home, it can cause extensive water damage across all levels. If you notice walls, floor, or ceilings buckling or bending, it’s likely due to water damage weakening the building materials of your home.
What To Do When You Have An Ice Dam
When ice dams cause your roof to leak, there are steps you must take to prevent further damages and restore your home:
- Call your insurance company and file a claim.
- Have the ice dam removed by a professional company.
- Call a water damage restoration company to clean up the water damage inside of your home.
- Call a contractor to fix your roof to prevent further leaks.
- Take steps to prevent ice dams from forming on your roof again in the future.