Once the winter is finally over, all the snow that melts can cause a lot of problems in a lot of places. And your house is no exception. If you live in a region where there is a lot of snowfall, you probably already know about all the potential issues you might encounter once the snow goes away.
However, if you are new to the snowy regions, or you’ve never had to think about house and roof maintenance, industry professionals at Nu Look Home Design have compiled a list of things you should pay attention to when the snow melts.
Ice Dams
No, it’s not what it sounds like. But it can be a huge problem to your home. As your roof is caught between the cold of the outside and the weight of the snow on one side, and the warmth of the inside of your home on the other, something starts to happen. A thin layer of snow closest to your roof melts and goes down your gutters.
However, as it moves away from the warmth of the roof, this water re-freezes, as it is wont to do. The problem can occur if it re-freezes inside of your gutters, creating a plug in the pipe and preventing any new snowmelt from safely sliding off of your roof. Instead, this water will worm its way down however it can – sometimes it will be over your gutters, sometimes it will be down your home’s walls, as sometimes it can be through your shingles and under your roof.
As you can imagine, once all of the snow and ice melt, this can leave a lot of damage – both physical damage to your shingles and roof, as well as potential water damage to your attic or other parts of your house.
Snow Is Heavy
While we envision snow as this fluffy, almost ethereal white substance gently falling to the ground, once it finds its way down, snow can pack really densely and become very heavy. Think about your roof for a second – it has to hold the weight of the snow on it all winter.
Now, roofs are designed with this kind of weight and stress in mind, but checking your roof at least once a year for signs of physical damage is not that difficult or demanding. Look for broken shingles or any shingles that seem to be out of alignment.
If you aren’t sure whether something is a problem or not, it’s better to ask a professional for help than to ignore the problem until it gets more serious.
Is There Water Condensation in Your Attic
Your attic will be the first place where you will be able to notice if something is wrong with your roof. Even before the snow melts, you may be able to establish that there is a problem just by the condensation in your attic. If the melting snow somehow found its way into your home, the first place where it will become apparent will be the attic.
The smell of moisture is unmistakable, so you should be pretty confident about a potential leak in your attic. And while moisture itself is not great, what it can bring with it is of more concern – anything from black mold to actual structural damage to your roof and the rest of the home can happen if water damage is left untreated.
Keeping your roof functional and in good condition even after a winter with heavy snow doesn’t take a lot of time, but it can save you a lot of headache and money down the line.