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ILLUSTRATION:
BRYCE LEE |
When the temperature
drops below freezing, roof leakage can occur as a result
of an ice dam. Melted water backs up under shingles, and
leaks into the interior.
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inter in
Michigan is pretty much synonymous with cold and snow. |
For too
many Michigan homeowners and businessowners every year,
cold temperatures and heavy snowfall bring burst pipes,
leaky roofs, and other costly structural damage.
Policy claims typically cover only part of the cost of
repair, and threaten to increase your premiums. Repeated
claims will definitely increase your premiums, and your
company may elect not to renew your policy.
Winter home hazzards can be averted with some basic
precautionary measures.
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Ice
dams causing water backup on roofs, and burst or leaky
pipes, are two of the biggest culprits in winter damages.
ICE DAMS - WHAT CAUSES THEM
AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM
A lot
of homeowners don't know what ice dams are - until it's
too late.
Ice dams are most common in northern climates. They occur
when heavy snow buildup melts during the day, and then
refreezes when temperatures drop overnight. After several
days of melting-freezing cycles, it's common for the
melted water and ice to work up under the shingles until
water enters the attic and eventually does damage to the
ceilings, wall and contents.
If an ice dam goes unnoticed for an extended period of
time, it can do significant damage to the building and its
contents. There's no way to guarantee an ice dam won't
damage your home, but you can take steps to cut the
chances of an ice dam forming in the first place:
— If you haven't already,
thoroughly clean all leaves, sticks and other debris from
your home's gutters and down spouts. This lets melting
roof snow flow into gutters and through down spouts, as
they were designed to do. Throughout the winter, keep
gutters and downspouts clear of snow and icicles.
— Make every effort to keep snow on your roof to a
minimum. Long-handled devices on the market called "roof
rakes" let you stand on the ground and pull the snow off
the roof. Keeping heavy snow loads off your roof reduces
the chances for both ice dam formation and roof failure
due to the weight.
— Evaluate the insulation and ventilation in your attic.
Most experts agree the R-value of attic insulation should
be at least R-30 (R-38 is preferable in northern
climates). In addition, good airflow from under the eaves
or soffit area along the underside of the roof and out
through the roof vents is essential to a cool, dry attic.
Vents located in the soffits and along the ridge ensure a
steady flow of cold air under the roof deck. Finished
attics must provide unobstructed cold-air channels between
the soffits and ridge to ensure that the roof deck is not
heated by thermal energy leaking out of the attic living
space. Consult a reputable roofing and/or insulation
contractor about these improvements.
— Carefully seal all ceiling penetrations (light fixtures
etc.); to keep warm, moist air out of the attic. |
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