My roof is covered in snow….

Winter storms have dumped nearly 20 inches of snow in Central Kansas this month.  The average snow fall is 15-20 inches throughout the state.

With Kansas residents climbing up on roofs with snow rakes and shovels attempting to remove snow and ice, there are a few basic tips and tricks that can help combat personal injury and future leaks:

Take care. Snow and ice can combine to create a very slippery surface. Before climbing up on a roof and risking a fall, see if you can remove the snow with a snow rake or a shovel.

If you know you have a problem with ice dams, shovel snow off of the roof before it has a chance to melt, potentially forming ice dams. Depending on how bad ice dams on your roof are and how much water is building up behind it, ceilings can fall in or result in any other number of problems.

• Calcium chloride can be used to break up ice dams. Most hardware stores will have it. Another option is ‘heat tape.’ It’s like an extension cord that gets hot. You can run it in your gutters so your gutters don’t freeze. You can also run it along the bottom of your house to prevent the formation of ice dams. Heat tape works best when applied in the spring or fall.

• One of the big problems concerning the creation of ice dams is a lack of ventilation or insulation in attic spaces. Without ventilation or good insulation, heat escapes from the house into the attic. Warm air in the attic can cause ice to form on the roof which can lead to a dam.

• Be aware of snow and ice covering vents for septic systems and furnaces. Some furnaces vent through the roof and so if those vents get plugged up it can shut your furnace off so that carbon dioxide from your furnace doesn’t hurt or kill you.

Posted in Uncategorized by Tracy Fox.