Ice damming is more likely to occur in a freeze-thaw cycle. (Submitted Photo/SGI)

By Rob Mahon

Ice Dam Season

Impending meltdown poses risk of ice damming

Mar 30, 2023 | 5:00 PM

Warmer weather is finally on the horizon, and that means a lot of melting snow and ice in the future for Prince Albert and area. For those with heavy snow packs on their roof, this could mean the danger of ice damming.

“We’ve seen a lot of fluctuating temperatures,” said SGI media relations manager Tyler McMurchy. “Melting and freezing, melting and freezing, and then there’s been snow, and then it melts and comes back. There is a lot of concern that we might see ice dams this year. Once of the things we always remind people is reducing the amount of snow on your roof will reduce the chance you will encounter one of these ice dams.”

Ice dams form when snow collects on a roof and gets melted by either heat from the attic or warming temperatures, trickles to the eavestrough, and freezes again, blocking other water from running off the roof. This can become a large ice block that causes buildups.

“As the snow melts and refreezes,” McMurchy said, “it kind of finds its way under your shingles and can make its way into your attic and into the walls of your home. That’s where the damage comes from, and that’s why we see claims relating to ice dams.”

The simplest method of prevention is getting the snow off your roof, for which McMurchy recommends a roof rake rather than climbing up onto a roof to dislodge it from there. Clearing off the first four to six feet around the edge of the roof can go a long way toward letting it drain properly.

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“It can cause all kinds of damage, whether the moisture is coming down your walls, damaging your belongings or just the insulation and drywall,” said McMurchy. “Basically, any kind of situation where you’re getting water where it’s not supposed to be in your home, you can imagine what kind of problems that can cause.”

If you’re looking for signs of an ice dam, McMurchy recommended looking for warning signs like icicles forming along the roof line, which is an indication that eavestroughs are full and the melting water doesn’t have anywhere to go. Discolored icicles may be a sign the water has already flowed into your home and collected dirt.

“If you’re inside your house and you’re seeing water stains on your ceiling or you’re seeing water running down the inside of your walls, pooling in your basement, or uneven melt patterns on your roof, these could all be indications of an ice dam,” said McMurchy.

McMurchy added some home insurance policies do cover damage due to ice dams, but not all of them do, so people should talk to their insurance brokers if they’re unsure.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP