Do you have ice dams?

You can help prevent serious damage to both the roof and inside of your home by minimizing the likelihood that an ice dam will develop, and by removing one as soon as you spot it. Ice dams can form when water from melting snow re-freezes at the edge of your roofline. Without roof snow removal, an ice dam may grow large enough to prevent water from draining off the roof. This water can then back up underneath roof shingles and make its way into your home. 

  

How Do You Know if You Have an Ice Dam?

• Look carefully at the icicles around the exterior of your house. If they are confined to the gutters and there is no water trapped behind them, then an ice dam has likely not formed. Nonetheless, icicles can pose a danger to people when they fall off, so try to safely knock them down while standing on the ground, making sure not to stand directly beneath them. If you cannot safely reach them from the ground, consider hiring a contractor to help.
• Check for water stains or moisture in the attic or around the tops of exterior walls on the top floor of your house. Stains and moisture may indicate that an ice dam has formed and water has penetrated the roof membrane.

  

How to Remove an Ice Dam:

• Melt the ice dam. Fill a nylon stocking with calcium chloride ice melt, and place it vertically across the ice dam so that it melts a channel through the dam. If you try this, make sure you can safely position the ice melt on your roof, and make sure to use calcium chloride, not rock salt. Rock salt will damage your roof. Also, be aware that shrubbery and plants near the gutters or downspouts may be damaged.
• Get professional help. If you cannot safely reach the roof, avoid using a ladder in snowy and icy conditions. Consider hiring a contractor to remove the ice dam.

I you need the help of a contractor, we recommend Mike Dhembe, he can be reached at http://www.mdhembeschimneysweep.com/ and 508-765-9600.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call. 

Winter Home Maintenance Tips

Travelers Insurance made a wonderful 'winter home maintenance tips' article. It is below. Have a safe and happy winter! 

As winter nears, make sure your home is prepared to withstand another season of cold temperatures, driving winds and icy conditions. The maintenance that you do today can help prevent more costly emergency repairs in the height of a storm, when it can be difficult to find supplies and licensed contractors.

Download the Winter Maintenance PDF >

Following are five important categories to focus on for this winter:

Your Heating System

Before you give your heating system a workout this winter, take the time for preventive maintenance. It may help extend the life of your system and identify potential problems.

Before winter:

• Have your furnace or boiler checked and serviced by a licensed contractor at least once a year, preferably before the heating season begins.
• Clean or replace the furnace filter on forced hot air systems.
• Have your chimney checked and serviced by a licensed contractor at least once a year. Pay particular attention to having creosote build-up removed for chimneys servicing woodstoves and fireplaces.
   

During winter:

• Have your fuel tanks filled and keep an eye on levels throughout the winter.
• Set your heat no lower than 55 degrees as the temperature inside the walls where water piping is located is colder than the living spaces; open doors to unoccupied rooms to keep an even temperature throughout the house.
• Maintain your wood-burning or pellet stoves according to the manufacturer's instructions.

 
Your Insulation

Is your insulation prepared to protect you from the cold? As an important line of defense from winter’s gusty winds and freezing temperatures, it is worth taking some time to inspect and upgrade insulation and weather stripping before the season starts.

• Add extra insulation in the attic to guard against ice dams. If too much heat escapes into the attic, it can warm the ice and snow on the roof. When it refreezes, it can cause an ice dam, which can lead to water damage inside your home or possibly even a roof collapse.
• Add weather stripping around doors and caulk windows to guard against drafts and heat loss.
• Remove screens from windows, and install storm windows.

 
Your Utilities

Freezing temperatures can be especially damaging to your home’s water piping. Make sure your pipes are adequately prepared to withstand a cold snap and remember to take extra precautions if you are going to be leaving your home, including shutting off your water. 

• Check for water leaks and fix problems immediately; wrap water piping in UL-Listed heat tape and insulate if it is exposed in unheated areas such as garages, crawl spaces or attics. Use only thermostatically controlled heat tape if your water piping is plastic and follow the manufacturer's installation instructions.
• Learn how to shut off your water and know where your pipes are located in case they do freeze; you may be able to prevent water damage.

 
Your Winter Safety Measures

As you prepare for winter, following are some further safety measures that are especially important during the cold season.

• Trim trees and remove dead branches so they do not damage your home or injure someone if they fall because of ice, snow or wind.
• Keep gutters clear of leaves, sticks and other debris to ensure melting snow can drain properly. Make sure downspouts direct water away from the foundation.
• Repair steps and handrails to make them safer in the ice and snow.
• Check smoke detectors, fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries to ensure they are operating properly.

  
Your Key Supplies and Equipment

The first storm of the year can come sooner than you think. Stock up early and get key equipment, like snow blowers and generators, in good working condition long before you need them, so you can be prepared to enjoy what the season has to offer.

• Make sure you have snow shovels and a roof rake on hand. Stock your ice melting compound to melt ice on walkways.
• Have your snow blower and generator serviced and any necessary repairs made.
• Keep fuel for snow blowers and generators in approved safety containers and away from heat or flame producing devices. Do not store fuel in your basement.