The sight of thick icicles hanging from your gutters in Calgary, Airdrie, or Cochrane might look charming, but it’s a major warning sign. These aren’t just frozen water; they are ice dams, and they are one of the most destructive winter threats to your home.
Ice dams cause water to back up under your roof shingles and leak into your attic, walls, and ceilings. This leads to costly water damage and dangerous attic mold.
At Crack & Attic Doctor, we know that ice dams are an attic problem, not just a roofing problem. The long-term solution lies in fixing the heat loss from your home.
What Exactly is an Ice Dam? The Simple Science 🌡️
An ice dam forms because of uneven roof temperatures caused by poor attic conditions. Here is the process:
- Heat Escapes: Warm air from your heated home leaks into the cold attic (due to poor insulation or air leaks).
- Snow Melts: This warm air heats the middle part of your roof, melting the snow above it.
- Water Flows: The melted water flows down the roof until it hits the cold eaves (the part hanging over the house, usually unheated).
- Water Freezes: Because the eaves are below freezing, the water refreezes, creating a ridge of ice—the ice dam.
- Water Backs Up: This ice dam traps new meltwater behind it, forcing the water under your shingles and into your house, causing leaks and damage.
The Three Keys to Ice Dam Prevention: The Attic Solution
The best way to stop ice dams is to keep your attic as cold as the outside air. This is achieved through three critical steps:
1. Air Sealing (Stop the Leaks) 💨
The biggest culprit for a warm attic is air leaks. Warm air rises and leaks through small gaps from the heated rooms below.
- Seal Openings: We find and seal holes around ceiling light fixtures, bathroom fans, chimneys, vent pipes, and the attic hatch itself.
- Prevent Heat Flow: A completely sealed ceiling prevents the expensive heat you pay for from ever reaching the attic, stopping the melt cycle at the source.
2. Proper Insulation (Keep Heat Where It Belongs) 🧣
Once air leaks are sealed, you need enough insulation to block heat transfer by conduction.
- Upgrade R-Value: Many older Calgary homes have outdated, thin insulation. We upgrade your insulation to the proper R-Value (often R-50 or higher) to create a thick thermal barrier.
- Even Coverage: We ensure the insulation is uniform and not compressed or wet, which restores its full effectiveness.
3. Effective Ventilation (Remove Any Remaining Heat) 🌬️
The third step is to remove any heat that still manages to sneak into the attic.
- Intake & Exhaust: Your attic needs balanced ventilation. This means proper air intake (soffit vents near the eaves) and air exhaust (ridge or gable vents at the peak).
- Clear Passages: We ensure that the insulation is not blocking the soffit vents. This is done by installing baffles (vent chutes) to create a clear path for cold air to enter and flow over the top of the insulation, keeping the roof deck cold.
The Real Cost of Ignoring Ice Dams 💸
Temporary fixes like chipping away ice or melting channels only fix the symptom. Ignoring the root cause (the heat loss) leads to far more expensive damage:
- Interior Water Damage: Wet drywall, ruined paint, and damaged flooring.
- Structural Damage: Rotting wood rafters and roof sheathing in the attic.
- Mold Growth: Water-soaked insulation and wood are the perfect breeding grounds for harmful attic mold, which requires professional remediation.
Investing in professional attic repair—air sealing, insulation, and ventilation—is the most reliable way to save money and protect your home this winter.
📞 Protect Your Home from Winter Leaks! Get a Free Attic & Ice Dam Prevention Estimate!
Don’t wait for the first winter leak to call. Crack & Attic Doctor specializes in long-term attic solutions for Calgary and surrounding areas.
- Call Us: (403)-321-2623
- Email Us: crackandatticdoctor@gmail.com
- Get Your Free Quote Now: https://cracknattic.ca/get-free-quote-for-cracks-repair-service/ (Specify “Attic Repair/Ice Dam Prevention”!)
Leave a Reply