4 Signs of an Ice Dam on Your Roof

Many homeowners are surprised by serious damage from ice dams every winter because they don’t know what to look for when it comes to these icy formations. This guide will walk you through four common signs of ice dams as well as what to do if you find them, how to prevent them, and how to know it’s time to call in a pro. 

Why Ice Dams Are Dangerous

Ice dams are chunks of ice that form at the edge of your roof when snow or ice partially melts and then refreezes before draining off the roof. Not only can ice dams cause roof damage, but they can also damage the interior of your home. 

When an ice dam blocks water’s path off the roof, the water is forced underneath the shingles, damaging the shingles, the roof deck, and other roofing components. In addition, once the water has penetrated the roof, it can leak into your attic, walls, and ceilings, causing mold, staining, water damage, and material deterioration. 

Signs of an Ice Dam

Knowing what to look for can help you spot an ice dam formation early on, giving you time to fix the problem before it causes expensive damage. While the most obvious sign of an ice dam is seeing a large chunk of ice at the roof edge or gutter, there are other indications that an ice dam may be forming.

1. Areas of Melted Snow on the Roof

If you see spots of melted snow on the roof while the rest of the roof still has frozen snow, this can be a sign that the roof in those spots is being warmed by air from inside the house. A poorly insulated attic can allow warm air to escape through the roof, melting snow in that area. Once that melted snow starts to run off the roof, it’ll encounter a colder spot where the snow is still frozen and refreeze, forming an ice dam. 

2. Icicles Forming on the Roof Edge or Gutters

While icicles aren’t always a sign of ice dams, you’ll want to investigate if you see them hanging from the roof edge or gutters. Icicles can form just from dripping water refreezing when it falls into freezing air, but they can also form if ice dams are preventing that water from draining off the roof or into the gutters and the water is being forced over the surface of the ice.

3. Interior Water Stains

Finding water stains on the interior surface of your roof, on your ceilings, or high up on interior walls can indicate that water has entered through the roof underneath the shingles. Ice dams prevent water from flowing off the roof, so without anywhere else to go, the water makes its way inside your home, damaging anything it comes in contact with.

4. Ice on Exterior Walls 

When ice dams block the edge of the roof, water can leak under and behind the eaves and form ice on exterior walls, under the eaves, and behind the soffits. Finding ice on unexpected exterior surfaces is reason enough to look for ice dams that may be forcing water to reroute.

When to Hire a Pro for Ice Dam Removal

If you’ve spotted the signs of ice dams, it’s important to remove them before they cause serious damage to your roof or home. Hiring a pro who removes ice dams as soon as you know you have a problem will reduce the chances that the ice dam will get worse. A local roof cleaner who specializes in ice dam removal can assess the situation and safely and effectively remove the problem.

Can I DIY Ice Dam Removal?

Ice dam removal should only be attempted by homeowners with extensive roofing experience due to the many safety risks involved. Icy ladders can be very slippery, and a snow-covered roof is a serious fall risk. In addition, improper ice dam removal can damage your shingles or gutters and lead to more problems down the road. In most cases, this job is best left to the pros.

How to Prevent Ice Dams

Since snow that melts and refreezes causes ice dams, the best ways to prevent ice dams keep that melt/freeze cycle from happening. Ensuring your attic is properly insulated is the best way to prevent ice dams, as it will keep the snow above the attic from melting faster than the rest of the roof. Clearing off your roof after a snowstorm with a roof rake or roof brush can also help prevent ice dams.

You may also consider installing roof heating cables to keep the edge of your roof and the gutters from freezing. Roof heat cables aren’t dangerous when installed properly using safety-rated products, but you may see a sharp increase in your electric bill while they’re in use.

How Much Does Ice Dam Removal Cost?

Ice dam removal costs between $650 and $2,000 on average, depending on the size of the ice dam, the height and pitch of your roof, and the location of the ice dam. Ice dam removal can carry a high price tag, but it’s a small amount to invest when compared to the expensive damage ice dams can cause to your roof and home.