W&K Restoration Guide
Preventing Ice Dams This Winter
Connecticut's most predictable winter loss is also one of the most preventable.
What an ice dam actually is
Heat escaping through your roof melts snow, which refreezes at the cold eaves, forming a ridge of ice. Meltwater pools behind the ridge and works under shingles into your walls and ceilings.
Air sealing beats everything else
The root cause is warm air leaking into the attic. Seal attic bypasses — around light fixtures, plumbing stacks, chimneys, and hatches — before adding insulation. Insulation without air sealing just filters the leak.
Keep gutters and downspouts clear
Clogged gutters give meltwater nowhere to go. Clean them after leaf drop and check that downspouts discharge away from the foundation.
If water is already coming in
Don't chip at the ice with hatchets or torches — that's how roofs and homeowners get hurt. Call for professional steam removal, and get the interior water mitigated quickly to prevent mold in wall cavities.