Ice dams can cause costly leak damage during Utah winters. Learn why they form along the Wasatch Front and how insulation, ventilation and heat cables stop them.

Every winter, homeowners from Ogden to Provo find long icicles hanging off their gutters, and sometimes water stains on the ceiling a few days later. That's usually an ice dam. Fall is the best time to prevent them, before the first big snow.

What Causes Ice Dams

Heat escaping from your living space warms the roof deck and melts snow on the upper roof. That meltwater runs down to the cold eaves, refreezes, and builds a ridge of ice. More meltwater then backs up behind the dam and gets pushed under the shingles, into the walls and ceilings.

The Wasatch Front is especially prone to this. Heavy snowfall, sunny days followed by freezing nights, and higher-elevation homes on the benches in Ogden, North Ogden, Layton, Farmington, Bountiful, Holladay and Draper create perfect freeze-thaw conditions.

Warning Signs

• Thick icicles along the gutters
• Ice building up at the roof edge or in gutters
• Water stains on ceilings or exterior walls near the eaves
• Peeling paint or damp insulation in the attic

How to Prevent Ice Dams

1. Seal attic air leaks and add insulation

Keeping heat in the house keeps the roof cold. Seal around can lights, bath fans, attic hatches and plumbing stacks, and bring insulation up to current recommended levels.

2. Improve roof ventilation

Balanced intake (soffit) and exhaust (ridge) vents keep the roof deck closer to outdoor temperature so snow melts evenly.

3. Install ice & water shield

When a roof is replaced, a waterproof membrane at the eaves and valleys acts as a second line of defense if water backs up. If your roof is due for replacement, make sure it's included.

4. Add roof heat cables

Professionally installed heat cables along the eaves and in the gutters create channels so meltwater can drain instead of refreezing. They're one of the most effective fixes for problem areas like north-facing eaves and valleys. Learn more about our ice dam prevention and heat cable installation.

5. Keep gutters clean

Clear leaves in the fall so meltwater has somewhere to go.

What to Do If You Already Have an Ice Dam

• Use a roof rake from the ground to pull snow off the bottom few feet of the roof
• Don't chip ice with a hammer or shovel; it damages shingles
• Never use rock salt on the roof; it can damage shingles, gutters and landscaping
• If water is coming inside, call for roof repair and have the roof checked once the ice clears

Get Ahead of Winter

Best Systems Roofing serves homeowners from Provo and Orem to Ogden and every city in between. Request a free roof estimate or call 801-747-9040 and we'll schedule a visit.

We install heat cables and fix ice dam damage across Ogden, Layton, Kaysville, Farmington, Bountiful, Salt Lake City and Draper.