When you take a look at your metal roofing and vinyl siding to make sure everything is ready for winter, don’t forget about your gutters. These critical parts of your home are designed to keep water away from the structure and ensure that damage isn’t being done to your siding.

As the temperatures start to drop, you’re going to need to be mindful of the potential for ice dams – but what exactly are ice dams? If you’ve been fortunate enough to never experience one, you may not know how to handle it in the future. An ice dam occurs when run-off water and snow from the roof freezes over a gutter, rendering it ineffective. Here are some tips for remedying this problem and prevent it from happening in the future.

1. Contact a professional
Ideally, you shouldn’t try your hand at removing the ice dam by venturing up to the roof on your own, especially when it’s slippery. Contact a contractor who can come and assess the situation, remove the ice dam and get your gutters working normally. Safety should always be a priority, especially when it comes to roofs and gutters.

2. Install a heater
One option that some people take up is installing heaters for their roofs and gutters. Heated wires can be set up along the gutters on the roof to prevent run-off from freezing and causing ice dams. If you live in a region of the country that experiences freezing temperatures throughout much of the year, this might be an ideal choice for you.

3. Insulate your attic space
The warmth from your home causes snow on the roof to melt and re-freeze, raising the potential for an ice dam. However, you can prevent this from happening by properly insulating your attic space. This can ensure that the heat from your house doesn’t rise and directly affect the snow

on top of your roof, according to House Logic.

Ice dams don’t just affect the exterior of your home – they can eventually cause the cracking and decay of ceilings, along with leaks indoors. By taking care of this problem sooner rather than later, you can gain peace of mind as a homeowner and save money on costly expenses.

Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling News brought to you by Global Home Improvement, the Tri-State’s Leading Home Remodeler. For your Free Estimate call 1-215-953-5151 today!