What can I do to prevent ice dams?

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While there is no “cure” for ice damming, the following steps can minimize the chance your home will be affected and help prevent ice dams:

  1. Make sure your attic area has adequate insulation.
  2. Make sure your attic insulation does not cover your soffit air intake vents. Add soffit vents if your home currently does not have any.
  3. Make sure your attic area has sufficient air exhaust outlets (gable vents) and that the air flow is distributed throughout the attic space. Peak mounted ridge vents maximize air flow in attic areas.
  4. Products such as an ice and water protector can be installed at the eaves of the home and in valley areas under the shingles which will prevent water from entering the home unless it dams higher than the protection provides.
  5. Electric heat tapes can be installed in the gutter system or in extreme cases, can be installed on the lower sections of the roof to melt the ice before dams are formed.