The pretty icicles that hang from your home during the winter may look nice, but underneath the charming look is a whole host of possibilities that could lead to home damage.

The icicles are called ice dams.  Ice dams are caused by heat escaping through your roof during the winter.  As the heat escapes, it melts snow and ice on your roof.  The water runs along the roof and under the snow, refreezing as it reaches your roof’s cold overhang.  These ice dams trap melting water, keeping the water from draining off the roof.

The water has to go somewhere.  If it cannot drain off the roof, melting water leaks through your walls and ceiling, damaging your roof and potentially the inside of your home.  In order to prevent ice dams and the damages they can cause, you can:

• Make sure your eaves and ridge are well-ventilated
• Add insulation to your attic floor so the heat in your house will stay put
• Install flashing around your chimney
• Use sealant around electrical cables and vent pipes