# Understanding ice dams: signs, what to do and insurance

> Ice dams can push meltwater under your shingles. Learn the signs, what to do safely, how insurance may treat the damage, and how to prevent ice dams.

Canonical page: https://www.mobleybros.com/blog/roofing/roofing-repair/understanding-ice-dams/

Mobley Brothers Roofing & Renovation (Mobley Brothers Roofing & Renovation LLC) is a family-owned and veteran-owned roofing and renovation contractor founded in 2007 by brothers Mike and David Mobley, one company with two branches; their sons, Operations Managers Martin Mobley (Lebanon) and Aaron Mobley (Knoxville), work alongside them. Offices in Lebanon (112 Tirzah Street, Lebanon, TN 37087, (615) 455-3131) and Knoxville (10440 Laurel Pointe Lane, Knoxville, TN 37931, (865) 205-0800). Tennessee contractor license 59116. GAF Master Elite residential contractor, GAF GoldElite Commercial contractor, HAAG Certified Inspector (residential), certified FORTIFIED Roof installer, BBB Accredited with an A+ rating. Google rating 4.9 from 94 reviews (Lebanon) and 4.9 from 286 reviews (Knoxville). Hours: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week; Calls answered or returned day or night.

Ice dams do not form every winter in Tennessee, so many homeowners have never seen one until water shows up inside the house. When a winter brings snow and sleet followed by brief thaws and another freeze, ice dams can form on homes in both Middle and East Tennessee, and the leaks they cause can travel a long way from where the water gets in. As a GAF Master Elite residential roofing contractor with offices in Lebanon and Knoxville, we help homeowners deal with ice dams and the damage afterward. Here is what an ice dam is, how to spot one, what to do and how insurance may handle it.

## What is an ice dam?

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms along the lower edge of a roof and keeps melting snow from draining off. It starts when heat from the house leaks into the attic and warms the upper part of the roof deck. Snow on that warm section melts and runs down to the overhang, which sits outside the heated part of the house and stays below freezing. There the water refreezes. As the ridge grows, it traps more meltwater behind it, and that water backs up under the shingles and into the attic, ceilings and walls.

The University of Minnesota Extension explains the conditions well: there has to be snow on the roof, with the higher part of the roof surface above freezing while the lower edge stays below freezing. Its guide to dealing with and preventing ice dams is worth a read.

## Why ice dams form on Tennessee roofs

Our winters rarely bring deep snow, but they often bring layers: sleet that fills the gutters instead of draining, then snow or freezing rain on top, then a sunny afternoon that melts part of it, then another freeze. With the heat running inside around the clock, that cycle of melting and refreezing is exactly what builds ice dams. Because it does not happen every year, an ice dam often catches a homeowner by surprise.

## Ice dams vs. icicles

Photos of ice dams usually show long icicles and thick ridges of ice and snow along the gutters. Icicles can be a warning sign, because they mean water is melting and refreezing at the roof edge. But you do not need a dramatic buildup to have a problem. It only takes a small amount of ice packed into a gutter to back water up under the bottom row of shingles.

## Signs you have an ice dam

If your gutters are full of snow, sleet and ice and you notice water inside your home, an ice dam is a likely cause. Watch for:

- Water stains on ceilings or walls, especially near exterior walls
- Water dripping around window frames or from the top of a door frame
- Wet or matted insulation in the attic
- Damp spots, mold or mildew in the attic or on walls
- Wet carpet or warped flooring near an outside wall

Water follows the path of least resistance, so a leak from an ice dam can appear far from the spot where it got in.

## What to do if you have an ice dam

- Stay off the roof. Climbing an icy ladder or roof is dangerous. A long-handled roof rake used from the ground can pull snow off the lower roof, but it can also scrape shingles, so use it gently and watch for overhead power lines.
- Do not chip at the ice. An axe, hammer or chisel will damage shingles and gutters and can make the leak worse.
- Protect your belongings. Move furniture, electronics and anything valuable away from the leak and catch drips in buckets.
- Document the damage. Take photos or video of the water damage inside and the ice outside before you clean up.
- Call your insurance company and your roofer. Hold off on permanent repairs until your insurer has seen the damage.

Roof repairs cannot be made while ice and snow are still on the roof, but we can get you on our schedule now so we are ready as soon as it melts. If water is pouring in, see our emergency roof repair page for what we can do in the meantime.

## Does insurance cover ice dam damage?

It depends on your policy. Many homeowners policies treat sudden water damage inside the home from an ice dam as a covered loss, and some also cover damage to the roof or walls from water backing up under the shingles. Removing the ice itself is usually not covered, and damage blamed on poor maintenance often is not either. In our experience, some policies pay for the interior water damage but not the roof or gutter repair, while others cover the whole claim.

Read your policy or call your agent before repairs begin. When an insurance claim is involved, one of our repairmen walks the roof, documents what he finds with photos, and we give your adjuster the information they need. Our page on the roof insurance claim process explains how we help.

## How to prevent ice dams

The goal is a cold roof: keep the heat in the house and out of the attic so snow melts evenly, or not at all, instead of melting high and refreezing low.

- Seal air leaks into the attic around light fixtures, attic hatches, plumbing and wiring openings.
- Add attic insulation where it is thin, so the roof deck stays cold.
- Keep intake vents in the soffits and exhaust vents near the ridge open so air moves under the deck.
- Clean your gutters in late fall so sleet and meltwater can drain.
- When you replace your roof, ask about ice and water shield along the eaves and valleys, a self-adhering underlayment that adds a second barrier where ice dams form.

Our post on ice and water shield explains that layer, and our winter roof and gutter tips cover the rest of a pre-winter checklist. A roof inspection in the fall is the easiest way to find the weak spots before the weather does.

## Call Mobley Brothers for ice dam roof repair

If an ice dam has caused a leak in your home, Mobley Brothers Roofing & Renovation can help with the repair and the insurance paperwork. We are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau at both offices. Call our Lebanon office at (615) 455-3131 for Middle Tennessee or our Knoxville office at (865) 205-0800 for East Tennessee, or send us a request to get on our schedule.

## Contact

- Mobley Brothers Roofing & Renovation of Lebanon: 112 Tirzah Street, Lebanon, TN 37087. Phone (615) 455-3131.
- Mobley Brothers Roofing & Renovation of Knoxville: 10440 Laurel Pointe Lane, Knoxville, TN 37931. Phone (865) 205-0800.
- Hours: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Calls answered or returned day or night.
- Contact page: https://www.mobleybros.com/contact-us/