Just like icicles, ice dams are some ice formations,
localized on the edge of the roofline, except that these have the shape of a
ridge and prevents water (snow) from draining. These ice dams typically occur
as a result of the repeated snow melting processes, followed back by the freeze
to this melted snow, or as a consequence of some days with constant
temperatures below the freezing limit.
Besides the risk of
affecting the roof structure or the water infiltration into the walls, causing
the humidity or mold inside the house, these iced structures could affect the
gutters too. In fact, some people believe that gutters cause ice dams, not the
other way around. Could this be a misconception?
Recent research shows that whether or not a home has
gutters, ice dams would be still growing on the cold edge of the eave. Any
homeowner could certainly say that gutters may be damaged or destroyed by an ice
dam. That happens because the weight of the frozen water put pressure on the
gutter and misalign it, which means that it can no longer escape. Because of
that, gutter sections could clog and collapse in case of a storm. It's wise to call the Algonquin roofers to repair the gutter before it gets out of hand and you have to replace your roof.
Usually, gutters are barely noticed when looking at a house,
but, meaningless at it is, a damaged one can still cause severe structural
problems for your home.
