Prevent Home Ice Dams With These Tips

Avoid Ice Dams This Winter With These Tips With the cold, winter weather in full force, it is important to make sure that you do all you can to avoid ice dams on your roof. Keeping your entire roof the same temperature is the best way to prevent ice dams. However, this can be easier said than done. Make sure to pay special attention to these problem areas to avoid any issues this winter.

• Ventilate ridges and eaves - Soffit and ridge vents should always have the same size openings and provide an opening of at least 1 square foot for every 300 square feet of attic floor. Make sure to place the baffles at the eaves to maintain a clear path of airflow from the soffit vents.
• Cap the hatch - Having an unsealed whole-house fan or attic allows all of the heat in your attic to escape. Make sure that they are covered with weather-stripped caps that are made from foil-faced foam board that is sealed together with aluminum tape.
• Exhaust to the outside - ensure that all of the ducts that are connected to the bathroom, kitchen, and dryer vents lead to outside through either the walls or roof, never through the soffit.
• Add insulation - check with your local building department to see how much insulation is needed in your attic. Having the right amount of insulation on the attic floor helps to keep the heat where it belongs.
• Insulate and seal ducts - spread fiber-reinforced mastic on all of the joints of HVAC and exhaust ducts, then cover them entirely with either R-5 or R-6 foil-faced fiberglass.

Having the right homeowners insurance policy is the best way to ensure that you and your home are protected in case of any unfortunate situation this winter. Contact the insurance professionals at Club Agency in Garden City, New York for all of your home insurance needs.