New london ice dam removal services

Restoration for Water Damage Caused by ice dams

The combination of heavy snow and subfreezing temperatures in Massachusetts and New York creates ideal conditions for ice dams to form.

Ice Dam Repair Services in New London, Springfield, New Haven, Hartford, Stamford, Norwalk, New Rochelle and Nearby

• Removal of gypsum board, carpeting, insulation, and other materials damaged by moisture and mold.
• Drying and dehumidification.

What Causes Ice Dams?

Ice dams form when there’s snow on your roof, but a few other things must happen before they can cause damage.

They include the following:

• Melting Snow. Warm air from your home leaks into the attic through places like pull-down stairs, vent fans, and even recessed lights. The warm air rises to the upper sections of your roof where it starts to melt snow.
• Melt water freezes. You can’t see it, but a stream of water from the melted snow runs down the roof. When it gets to the eave, it often freezes. That’s because the eaves, which extend beyond the heated portion of your house, are typically colder than the rest of the roof. Eventually, a ridge of ice or an “ice dam” forms along the eaves.
• Water collects behind the dam. As the ridge of ice builds up, it traps a pool of water. Roofs are not made to hold water, just to shed it, so some of it can back up under the shingles and leak through the sheathing to the attic floor. From there, it can work its way through to the ceilings, walls, and even the floors below.

If you are experiencing water damage from ice dams that have formed on the roof of your New London home, our technicians are available 24/7 to inspect the damage and provide emergency ice dam remediation and water damage restoration. If you would like to learn more about preventing water damage with a roof replacement or gutter installation, schedule a Free Estimate.

It's impossible to prevent all forms of damage - if ice damming has damaged your gutters, call our pros at (860) 590-7717 to help with gutter repair or new gutter installation.

Ice Dams Cause Damage and Injury

A gutter filled with ice and weighted by heavy icicles (see photo) can cause:

• Injuries from falling icicles. Icicles can cause serious injury if they break loose and fall on a person. This sometimes happens when a homeowner attempts to knock them off the house.
• Damaged gutters. A gutter weighed down by ice can break free of the eave and become a twisted mess.
• Broken roof shingles. Freezing and thawing of water-soaked shingles can cause them to break and fail. Attempts to remove ice may also damage shingles.
• Wet, damaged insulation. Insulation loses its ability to resist heat flow once it has become soaked with water due to an ice dam leak. As insulation becomes ineffective, the frequency of ice dams grows.
• Interior water damage. Ice dams can cause damage that ranges from stained walls and ceilings to ruined carpets, floors and furnishings. Left unattended, water-soaked materials can quickly begin to grow mold.

Protect your gutters by making sure they're free of heavy ice - call (860) 590-7717 for help with ice dam removal in new london.

How to Minimize the Chance of Ice Dams Forming on Your Roof

Usually, the results and damage associated with ice dams forming along eaves are interior water damage and ruined insulation.

One way to prevent ice damming from occurring on your home is to remove as much snow as possible from the roof. This entails the risky work of climbing onto the roof and shoveling the snow off a slippery and angled surface. A safer approach is to rake snow from the roof using long-handled snow rakes.

If ice dams have already formed and water begins coming into the house, ServiceMaster Restoration by New London can provide emergency flood repairs to minimize water damage. We can also remove moisture-damaged materials, such as carpeting and wallboard.

Don't let ice dams ruin your roof and gutters - contact us online or call (860) 590-7717 for roof ice dam prevention help.

What to Do After Ice Damming Repair

For a long-term solution to ice damming, we suggest air sealing large air leaks and upgrading insulation materials where necessary. This will enable your attic to maintain a cold enough temperature that snow on the shingles and rooftop won't melt and form ice dams. Without melting snow on cold days, the likelihood of ice dams is eliminated. Snow will melt naturally on the next warm day and drain down the roof harmlessly.