Steer Clear of Icicles and Roof Damage
By Rick Cline | December 27, 2017
As homeowners, we often overlook roof conditions during winter months. However, neglecting your roof can lead to serious damage from ice dams and icicles. The key to preventing ice dams is keeping the roof the same temperature as the eaves. This can be achieved through proper ventilation, insulation, and sealing air leaks.
Here are eight recommendations to protect your roof this winter:
1. Ventilate Eaves And Ridge
Pair ridge vents with continuous soffit vents to ensure proper air circulation through your attic. You need at least 1 square foot of opening for every 300 square feet of attic floor. Make sure to include baffles at the eaves to maintain a clear path for airflow from the soffit vents to the ridge vents.
2. Cap the Hatch
Seal and insulate your attic hatches and whole-house fans. Build weatherstripped caps made from foil-faced foam board held together with aluminum tape. This prevents warm air from escaping into the attic through these openings.
3. Exhaust to the Outside
Make sure all kitchen, bathroom, and dryer vents are routed to the outdoors through the roof or walls. Never allow these vents to exhaust through the soffit, as the warm moist air will flow right into the attic and contribute to ice dam formation.
4. Add Insulation
Increase the insulation on your attic floor to prevent heat from rising through the ceiling into the attic. Check with your local building department for the recommended insulation amounts for your area. More insulation means less heat transfer and fewer ice dams.
5. Install Sealed Can Lights
Replace old recessed lights with sealed “IC” (insulation contact) rated fixtures. These sealed fixtures allow you to safely cover them with insulation, eliminating a major source of heat leakage into the attic space.
6. Flash Around Chimneys
Seal the gap between the chimney and the house framing using L-shaped steel flashing held in place with unbroken beads of a fire-stop sealant. This prevents warm air from escaping into the attic around the chimney, which is a common cause of ice dams forming near chimneys.
7. Seal and Insulate Ducts
Apply fiber-reinforced mastic to all duct joints to seal them properly. Then cover the ducts with R-5 or R-6 foil-faced fiberglass insulation. Leaky and uninsulated ducts in the attic are a significant source of heat that contributes to ice dam formation.
8. Caulk Penetrations
Seal around all cables, electrical wires, pipes, and other penetrations through the ceiling into the attic using fire-stop sealant. A good way to find these leaks is to look for areas of blackened insulation, which indicates air has been filtering through. Also check for light leaks from below on a dark day.
By taking these steps now, you can prevent costly ice dam damage and be well-prepared for spring and summer. As a bonus, these improvements will also result in energy savings and lower heating bills throughout the winter season.