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Ice Dams in Lowell, MA
Ice building up at the eaves or water coming through the ceiling? Call (978) 577-5300 or send the form for safe ice dam removal and a free estimate on fixing what's causing it. We'll review your request and follow up with you.
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What causes them
Why ice dams form
An ice dam is a ridge of ice along the edge of the roof. It forms when heat from the house warms the roof deck and melts the snow on top. The meltwater runs down to the eaves, which hang out past the warm part of the house and stay cold. There it refreezes. Every melt adds to the ridge, and eventually water pools behind it and backs up under the shingles.
The ice isn't the real problem. Heat escaping into the attic is. It usually comes from:
- Air leaksGaps around attic hatches, recessed lights, plumbing and wiring let warm air into the attic.
- Thin insulationMany older Lowell houses have little or no insulation in the attic or the knee walls.
- Poor ventilationWithout intake vents at the eaves and exhaust at the ridge, the attic can't stay cold.
- Exhaust fans venting into the atticBathroom and kitchen fans should vent outside, not into the attic.
Warning signs
How to tell you have an ice dam
- Thick ice along the edge of the roof, often with large icicles hanging from the gutters
- Water stains or drips on ceilings or walls near the outside of the house, in the middle of winter
- Frost or ice on the underside of the roof boards in the attic
- Peeling paint or damp spots near windows and along the top of exterior walls
- Snow melting off the upper roof while the rest of the neighborhood's roofs are still covered
Removal
Getting rid of an ice dam safely
Most roofers remove ice dams with low-pressure steam. It melts channels through the ice without damaging the shingles. What not to do:
- Don't chip at the ice with a hammer, axe or shovel. It tears up shingles and gutters.
- Don't climb onto an icy roof or lean a ladder against icy gutters.
- Don't use a pressure washer or open flame.
From the ground, a roof rake can pull fresh snow off the lower few feet of the roof, which takes away the snow that feeds the dam. Stay clear of power lines when you do it.
Prevention
Stopping ice dams for good
Air sealing and insulation. Sealing the gaps into the attic and adding insulation keeps heat in the house and the roof cold. Massachusetts homeowners can get a free home energy assessment through Mass Save, the state's utility-sponsored energy efficiency program, which can include incentives for insulation.
Ventilation. Soffit intake vents paired with a ridge vent keep cold air moving under the roof deck.
Ice and water barrier. A self-sealing membrane under the shingles at the eaves. It doesn't stop ice dams from forming, but it keeps the water out when they do. Any proper roof replacement includes it.
Heat cables. Heated cables along the eaves can keep channels open. They treat the symptom, not the cause.
Lowell houses
Why so many Lowell houses get ice dams
Capes with knee walls. The capes across the Highlands, Pawtucketville and South Lowell often have finished half-story rooms with little insulation behind the knee walls and in the sloped ceilings. They're ice dam magnets.
Older houses with no insulation. Many of Lowell's 100-year-old houses were built before insulation was standard, and some still have very little.
Low-slope porch roofs. Snow sits longer on shallow porch roofs, and water backs up where they meet the house.
If you get ice dams every winter, fixing the attic is usually cheaper than repairing ceilings every spring. If it's already leaking inside, see roof repair in Lowell.
FAQ
Lowell ice dam questions
Does homeowners insurance cover ice dam damage?
Many policies cover the interior water damage an ice dam causes, but not always the cost of removing the ice or fixing the underlying cause. Check your policy and call your insurer if water has come inside.
Should I remove an ice dam myself?
It's safer not to. Climbing on an icy roof is dangerous, and chipping at the ice damages shingles and gutters. Raking fresh snow off the lower roof from the ground is the safe thing a homeowner can do.
Do heat cables prevent ice dams?
They can keep drainage channels open through the ice, but they don't fix the heat loss that causes the dam. They're a stopgap, not a cure.
Will a new roof stop ice dams?
A new roof with ice and water barrier at the eaves stops ice dams from leaking into the house. The dams themselves stop when the attic is properly insulated, air sealed and ventilated.
When is the best time to fix the cause?
Spring through fall, when the roof is clear and the attic is easy to work in. Remove the ice in winter, then fix the insulation and ventilation before the next one.
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