The first signs of the end of winter have sprouted over the last week with snow beginning to melt.
With an excessive amount of snow over the last few months, SGI wants to remind residents to clear off the melting snow before ice dams form along with water sneaking into the basement of your home.
When snow on the roof melts due to increasing temperatures. When the water reaches the eaves, where there is no longer heat, it often freezes into an ice block called an ice dam. The danger of an ice dam is that it prevents melted snow from draining off the roof and it could end up in the attic or the walls of a home.
Other signs of ice dams include, discoloured icicles, caused by water coming into your attic, picking up dirt, and taking it back outside, new water stains on the ceiling or water running down inside of the wall and pooling in the basement and water running down the windows and roof.
To avoid ice dams from forming, you should remove snow from the roof, especially within two metres of the eaves. One possible way is to use a roof rake.
Along with your roof, you should also remove snow that’s within two metres of your foundation to prevent water seeping into your basement.