Ice Damming Ottawa
HOUSE MAINTENANCE SERVICES
Ottawa Ice Dam Removal Services
What is an ice dam?
An ice dam happens when ice forms at the edge of the roof and prevents melting snow from draining off. When water backs up behind this dam, it can leak into your home and cause damage to your walls, ceilings, insulation and more.
What Causes Ice Dams in Ottawa?
One reason is weather related.
When major snow falls occur, they can insulate the attic and warm the air inside. This causes the snow on the roof to melt. The water is then absorbed into the layer of snow – forming ice. Water can then run down underneath to the colder points of the roof and form ice dams. Others are related to the house itself such as thermal bridging through walls, air leaking and pot lights.
Thermal bridging through walls
Older homes can have insufficient insulation issues that can put them at risk for ice dams. This can happen at where the roof and walls meet. Heat from the home can be transferred through the framing to the roof deck and melt the snow. The water then flows down under the snow to overhangs where it freezes again.
Air leaking
Home owners can experience a significant amount of heat loss through the walls and ceiling as it is transported by the air, which warms the attic and causes similar melting processes to occur leading to ice dams.
Pot lights
Sealing pot lights properly is difficult. Though they don’t generate a great deal of heat, they do heat the air, which can contribute to the problem.
Why it matters to you
Moisture in your home can lead to dangers to your health.
When ice dams form on your house, it allows moisture to enter the home – leading to mold and mildew growth. Mold and mildew can result in serious respiratory problems.
What you need to do
- Fix the water source issue(s)
- Clean affected areas to maintain air quality
- Dry any parts of the house that are wet or damp to prevent mold and mildew growth.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Difference Between Eavestrough and Gutter?
Most people are familiar with the term ‘gutter’ but haven’t heard of ‘eavestrough’. Technically, a gutter runs along the side of the road while an eavestrough is, as the name indicates, a trough attached to the eaves of your house. However, you can also refer to the eavestrough of your house as the gutter – we won’t mind.
How Often Should I Clean My Gutters?
Ideally, you should clean your gutters twice a year: at the end of fall, when the leaves have fallen off the trees and winter is approaching, and at the beginning of spring, when ice and snow have melted.
What Happens If I Don’t Clean My Gutters Regularly?
The entire purpose of your gutters is to direct water away from your home and ensure that it doesn’t seep into the foundation of your house where it can cause severe damage. Without cleaning your gutters regularly, debris can clog up your eavestrough and lead to your gutters overflowing. That leads to the water falling straight down – and reaching your foundation. So as insignificant as they may seem, eavestroughs actually perform an important role in the maintenance of your house.
Can I Clean My Own Gutters?
Cleaning gutters is often viewed as a DIY project. But it is also not without its dangers or challenges. We recommend booking a professional gutter cleaning service to clean out your gutters at least once a year to ensure the entire system is working smoothly and without problems. A professional cleaner from a gutter cleaning company also has the training and experience to notice smaller issues and fix them before they become bigger problems.
What Are Gutter Guards?
Gutter guards are exactly what their name indicates: they guard your gutters. Gutter guards are a good way to protect debris such as leaves, branches, or even bird nests. They ensure the function of your eavestrough and make gutter cleaning Ottawa a lot easier. Much like a strainer, they keep bigger debris out while letting only water (and small debris) pass through.
WE DON’T JUST GET’EM OUT – WE KEEP’EM OUT!
We are the only pest control company that offers you full removal and repairs caused by wildlife in Ottawa. Not to mention the wide array of maintenance and repair work we do! But not only that: we are proud to have received back-to-back Top Choice Awards in 2020 and 2021, among others. Most importantly though, we have a proven track record of satisfied clients: just look at our reviews on Google, HomeStars and some of our testimonials.
