Auburn Insurance Center

The Roof Ice Dam
Ice dams are a pervasive and damaging winter roofing problem caused by poor roof ventilation and a warm attic space. Left untreated, ice dams can cause serious damage to your roof, gutters, paint, insulation, drywall, structure and even contribute to mold.
Ice dams form when melting snow on a roof runs off and refreezes at the edge of a roof. This condition occurs when the snow is melted by a warm roof, creating water running between the snow and the warm roof surface, then freezing and turning to ice when it gets past the exterior wall and hits a cold unheated roof edge or gutter. As the bottom of the snow pack continues to melt, water continues to flow down the roof surface until it hits the ice, thereby creating a larger and larger ice dam.
Carefully inspect your home and have a professional assist in removal. Don't forget to remove excess snow from around the base of the house so melting snow doesn't build up and seep in the foundation.

Ironically, ice dams occur most commonly after a heavy snow because snow is a great insulator.

Roses are red, violets are blue, it’s always our pleasure to help insure you! ~Happy Valentines Day from the Staff of Auburn Insurance Center.

Just received a tip from someone to consider during the bad weather- help the Auburn Firefighters out by shoveling out your nearby fire hydrants. The city workers are doing their best to do it but we can help them out!