ice dams

[pudgybear]

First i have owned this home for about 4 years this will be 3rd winter and for the past 2 winters i have had ice dams on my gutter system, This house is located in southern part of MICHIGAN. My heating system is located in the attic with a down flow type blower, NOW my question is: Is the source of my problem because the furnace is in the attic or is warm air creeping up the attic stairwell ladder? Can i stack insulation around the heating ducts up in the attic or would it just be better to put insulation across the top of the stairwell ladder to keep this warm air from creeping up there??????

 

[Randy in Maine]

The best way to keep ice dams from forming is to make sure that the underside of the roof is the same temperature as the top of the roof.

That can be done by good venting or by good insualtion of that area.

 

[Denwood]

Job number one is properly tape and insulate all of the ducts in your attic. Job number two is adequate ventilation ensuring intake air from your eaves, and exit of warm/moist air at the ridge.

Alternatively just spray foam (closed cell, at least 2.5") your entire roof/sheathing surface from underneath, ensuring complete coverage over each wall top plate. This would eliminate the need to ventilate your attic.

 

[Jackfre]

Good advice so far. I can't imagine putting heat in the attic in MI or any northern climate for that matter. As noted, seal the ducting. Do not use duct tape. It will blow away by Jan.

I had major ice dam problems my last year back east. I used my tankless water heater to spray hot water and clear the ice. Worked like a charm!

 

[Rockhead261]

 

[404]

Venting at the soffit and the ridge (or gable) absolutely will work, but it needs to be very thorough. I already had vents in the gables but no soffit vents and it was ice dam city.

I sawed out a continuous strip of my soffit board the entire length of the house on all sides, even bump outs, and put in the 10 ft long perforated aluminum strips to keep bugs out. Put in those propa vents in each rafter bay to keep the insulation pushed away. Now I have no ice dams at all.

It is a lot of work and a giant pain in the *** to do this. The plus side is I get to look at other peoples icicles and not my own.

Regards,
404

 

[ripperd]

Good advice so far. I can't imagine putting heat in the attic in MI or any northern climate for that matter.

Agreed. That does seem odd for a cold climate. Seems like an invitation for ice dams.

 

[404]

Agreed. That does seem odd for a cold climate. Seems like an invitation for ice dams.

It is cheaper to do, and the builder is not going to live in the house.

That is the bottom line.

Regards,
404