Winter in Northeast Ohio is beautiful, but it can be brutal on your home.
You’ve seen them driving through Akron or Canton—thick ridges of solid ice hanging off the edge of a roof, often accompanied by long, dagger-like icicles. They might look picturesque, but they are a silent alarm bell for your home’s health.
These are ice dams. And if you have them, you are minutes away from a potential leak.
Don’t wait for water to start dripping through your ceiling. If you spot these icy ridges, you need professional help fast.
Call Now: [Insert Phone Number]
What is Ice Dam Formation?
Simply put, 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.
Here is the science behind the headache:
- Heat Loss: Warm air from your living space leaks into your attic.
- Melting: That warm air heats the roof deck, melting the snow on top.
- Refreezing: The melted water runs down to the eaves (the edges of the roof). Since the eaves aren’t over the heated living space, they are freezing cold.
- The Dam: The water refreezes at the edge, building a wall.
- The Leak: Water backs up behind this wall, gets under your shingles, and leaks into your home.
Why Is This Happening to My Home?
It’s rarely just “bad weather.” Ice dam formation is almost always a symptom of a home energy issue. It usually boils down to three culprits commonly found in homes across Summit, Stark, and Cuyahoga counties:
- Inadequate Attic Insulation: Your heat is escaping straight through the ceiling.
- Poor Ventilation: Hot air gets trapped in the attic instead of cycling out.
- Air Leaks: Gaps around light fixtures, chimneys, or attic hatches allow warm air to bypass insulation.
The K&K Construction Solution: Why You Need to Act
Ignoring an ice dam is like ignoring a check engine light—it only gets more expensive the longer you wait.
The Risks of Ignoring Ice Dams
- Roof Rot: Trapped water rots the decking beneath your shingles.
- Interior Water Damage: Peeling paint, stained drywall, and ruined floors.
- Mold Growth: Wet insulation and drywall are breeding grounds for mold.
- Gutter Damage: The sheer weight of the ice can rip gutters right off the fascia.
Our Approach to Prevention and Repair
We don’t just hack at the ice (which can damage your roof). We look at the whole system.
- Immediate Relief: Safe removal of snow and ice to stop the active leaking.
- Diagnosis: We inspect your attic insulation and ventilation levels.
- Long-Term Prevention: We upgrade your home’s defenses to keep the roof cold and your house warm.
Note: Properinsulation and energy efficiency upgradesare the only permanent cure for ice dams.
Local Spotlight: A Close Call in Cuyahoga Falls
Last February, we received a frantic call from a homeowner—let’s call him Mark—in Cuyahoga Falls. Mark had recently bought a charming 1950s colonial. He loved the character of the home, but he didn’t love the giant icicles hanging over his front porch.
Mark thought they were just part of winter in Ohio. That is, until he saw a brown ring forming on his master bedroom ceiling.
The Situation: Mark tried to knock the icicles down with a broom (a dangerous move we never recommend). It didn’t stop the water. The dam was inches thick, and water was pooling behind it, seeping under the shingles and down the interior walls.
The K&K Fix:
- Emergency Response: We arrived quickly to assess the situation.
- Safe Removal: Using steam—not axes—we melted channels through the ice to let the backed-up water drain safely.
- The Root Cause: Upon inspecting the attic, we found the insulation was old and compressed, and the soffit vents were blocked by painting over the years.
- The Solution: Once the roof was clear, we scheduled an insulation upgrade and installed proper baffling for the vents.
The Result: Mark’s roof stayed cold and clear for the rest of the winter. No more leaks, and his heating bill actually went down.
Don’t be like Mark and wait for the leak. Call Now for an Inspection: [Insert Phone Number]
Signs You Have an Ice Dam Problem
How do you know if your home is at risk? Walk outside and look up.
- Icicles on the Gutters: Small icicles are normal; thick, long spears are not.
- Ice on Siding: If you see ice glazing over your exterior walls, water is traveling where it shouldn’t.
- Water Stains: Check the ceilings on the top floor of your home.
- Snow Melt Pattern: If the snow on your roof melts in weird patches while your neighbor’s roof stays snowy, you have heat loss issues.
If you spot these signs, you need to look into ice dam prevention for Ohio homes immediately.