Ice dams & gutters questions

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NetWareHead

THAT guy
Aug 10, 2002
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My new house supposedly has the tendency to form ice dams on the eaves of the roof. Current tenant (who came with the property purchase) advised of the formation of impressive stalactites that hang past her windows.

I understand the prevention of ice dams has to do with insulating the floor of the attic so less heat escapes the structure to melt the snow on the roof. Insulating would help out from a heating fuel savings perspective. I just upgraded the heating systems and gave each tenant their own boiler so the natural gas savings would not be mine to appreciate.

There are also no gutters on the roof and I am thinking about getting some installed. The property has a tendency to get some water infiltration through the foundation that appears in the cellar with every major rainstorm.

So what do I do first? I'm concerned the ice dams may damage the roof with each passing season. Im also concerned that if I install new gutters, the ice dams may collapse them with their weight. I'd like to do at least one of these projects this fall.
 
Fanatical Meat

Fanatical Meat

Lifer
Feb 4, 2009
35,862
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Our house had very little insulation when we bought it. We added an appropriate amount now we have ice dams. Makes sense because the heat loss kept the ice away. We'll ultimately vent the roof better, until then I use a roof rake which I'll admit is a pain in the ass because if you have a big storm it can be tiresome.
I do have a new roof and ridge vent but I think I need to vent the sofits. I have heard that heated gutters are the way to go if you are installing new gutters.
 
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echo4747

Golden Member
Jun 22, 2005
1,979
156
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NetWareHead said:
My new house supposedly has the tendency to form ice dams on the eaves of the roof. Current tenant (who came with the property purchase) advised of the formation of impressive stalactites that hang past her windows.

I understand the prevention of ice dams has to do with insulating the floor of the attic so less heat escapes the structure to melt the snow on the roof. Insulating would help out from a heating fuel savings perspective. I just upgraded the heating systems and gave each tenant their own boiler so the natural gas savings would not be mine to appreciate.

There are also no gutters on the roof and I am thinking about getting some installed. The property has a tendency to get some water infiltration through the foundation that appears in the cellar with every major rainstorm.

So what do I do first? I'm concerned the ice dams may damage the roof with each passing season. Im also concerned that if I install new gutters, the ice dams may collapse them with their weight. I'd like to do at least one of these projects this fall.
Click to expand...

It is correct that you want adequate insulation to prevent heat loss but, you also need good soffit venting and venting near the top of the roof (i.e. ridge vent) to help prevent ice dams. When the snow on the roof melts and flows down near the edge and refreezes that is what forms the dam.
 
boomerang

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
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Soffit venting along with roof venting first IMO.

Gutters next and be sure to put extensions on the downspouts. Gutters and downspout extensions may very well eliminate your water infiltration problem.

I've had extensions in place for years but just had them friction fit to the downspouts. They would occasionally come off (lots of deer come through the property and some of the extensions would show signs of having been stepped on) and I would have water issues like you describe. I finally screwed the extensions onto the downspouts and lo and behold the problem was solved. Directing the water away from the foundation was the key.
 
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Thump553

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,835
2,620
136
boomerang said:
Soffit venting along with roof venting first IMO.

Gutters next and be sure to put extensions on the downspouts. Gutters and downspout extensions may very well eliminate your water infiltration problem.

I've had extensions in place for years but just had them friction fit to the downspouts. They would occasionally come off (lots of deer come through the property and some of the extensions would show signs of having been stepped on) and I would have water issues like you describe. I finally screwed the extensions onto the downspouts and lo and behold the problem was solved. Directing the water away from the foundation was the key.
Click to expand...

This. The soffit venting alone could very easily solve your problem-at a lot less initial cost and no continuing cost-as compared to deicing cables. I'd go the deicing cables only if you absolutely need to.

Soffit vents are a fairly easy DIY project-stop in at Home Depot/Lowes/etc. and ask questions, or google it.

The gutters should be done also-in theory can be a DIY if you have two sets of ladders and a good helper, but I'd hire someone to install seamless ones. Gutters and downspouts are fairly cheap.

Both of these should be done ASAP. If you get water inside the walls (from ice dams) or foundation damage those are expensive problems.
 
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