Ice dams are a problem that plagues many Binghamton homes in the winter. They seem to come out of nowhere and before you know it, you have a pile of ice on your roof, icicles hanging from your gutters, and water leaking into your attic.
If you’re worried about ice dams forming on your roof or are looking for a way to prevent ice dams in your gutters, Insulation Man can help. We insulate attics to prevent ice dams and protect your home. With decades of experience and a team of highly skilled installation technicians, we are the local and woman owned insulation company Binghamton homeowners trust most.
Ice Dams Form When Too Much Heat Escapes Your Attic
Roof ice dam prevention starts with attic insulation. This is because ice dams form when heat escapes your attic and warms your roof, melting the snow that’s on top of it. The snowmelt flows down your roof towards the eaves and gutters, where it’s colder, and refreezes.
This happens every time it snows and eventually, the ice forms a dam that stops water from draining away from your home. With nowhere else to go, melted water will collect on your roof and start to seep back into your attic, which can cause serious damage.
Ice Dams Can Harm Your Home
The falling icicles that often accompany ice dams can come crashing down on your gutters, deck, outdoor AC units, and even parked cars or people walking into and out of your home. This is a major safety concern, but it isn’t even the most common one!
The most common problem with ice dams, is water damage. When water is trapped by an ice dam, it’s unable to drain away from your roof safely. As a result, it will seep under your singles and back into your attic. This can lead to:
- Wet and damaged insulation
- Mold and mildew growth
- Stained and saggy ceilings
- Peeling paint
- Rotting and rusting building materials
Attic Insulation Is the Best Way to Prevent Ice Dams
Heated gutters and similar products may boldly claim to prevent ice dams, but the most effective solution lies underneath your roof, with better insulation and air sealing in your attic.
Attic insulation slows down heat transfer, so the heat from your furnace or heat pump stays inside your home instead of flying out through your attic. As a result, your roof stays cold and snow doesn’t melt unevenly, preventing ice dams on the roof.
In order for your attic insulation to work properly, you need to air seal as well. Air sealing is usually done with spray foam insulation. Spray foam is an insulating material that also acts as an air and moisture barrier. Sealing your attic will stop air and water from disturbing your insulation, helping it perform more effectively.
An Energy Audit Is the First Step toward Ice Dam Prevention
The Insulation Man offers professional energy audits to determine whether your home would benefit from an attic insulation upgrade. We use special tools to evaluate your attic insulation and look for air leaks so we can implement the most efficient and cost-effective solutions to stop ice dams from forming on your roof. We can also help you qualify for financing and incentives to make your attic insulation and air sealing project more affordable.
The Insulation Man is a locally owned and operated insulation company in Binghamton, NY with decades of experience serving area homeowners. You can trust us to provide honest and high-quality attic insulation services to improve your home and prevent ice dams for good. Check out our case studies and customer testimonials to see how we’ve helped Binghamton homeowners like you upgrade their insulation.
Protect Your Home With New Attic Insulation This Winter
Attic insulation helps with more than just ice dams. When you upgrade your attic insulation and air sealing, you’ll see benefits like:
- No more ice dams
- Lower energy costs
- Better home comfort
- Fewer cold drafts
- Improved indoor air quality
Insulation Man can help you enjoy all of these benefits in your Binghamton, NY home. We are committed to helping our customers save energy, save money, and make their homes as comfortable as possible with our insulation installation and air sealing services. Not sure if you’re home needs new insulation? A home energy assessment is a great way to find out!
