By circulating cool outside air in the attic space or in the rafter spaces just below the roof deck the roof surface remains below freezing and cannot melt the snow on the roof.
Ice dam does removing snow from roof vents help.
Without roof snow removal the ice dam may grow large enough to prevent water from draining off the roof.
With a substantial snowfall and frigid temperatures removing only partial snow will allow the ice dam to reform.
An ice dam can form when water from melting snow re freezes at the edge of your roofline.
Ice dams feed off of new snow too.
Use a roof rake to clear the first three to four feet of snow from your roof immediately after each winter storm to prevent ice dams from forming.
It will also help prevent flooding when the snow and ice melts.
Roof vents covered with snow and ice aren t a problem and the heat from the vent will melt it.
Once an ice dam forms it will grow upon each new snow fall.
If you pull the snow down it can t melt and form an ice dam.
Houses with good attic ventilation generally do not experience ice dams and the physics are quite simple.
The water can then back up underneath the roof shingles and make its way inside your home.
Not allowing heat to escape from vents warms the attic air temperature creating a winter green house.
The roofing professional will first remove excess snow from the roof by shoveling and then steam channels through the ice dam to help it melt.
Roof vents covered with snow and ice will trap heat in the attic.
He may chip away parts of the dam as he goes until the.
Immediate steps you can take.
Rake the snow off your roof after a heavy snowfall.