Ice Dam Leak Risk Check for Plymouth, MA
Plymouth winters bring heavy snow on low Cape roofs, and meltwater backs up under the shingles. Check the items that match your home to see how exposed it is.
Your ice dam leak risk
Low
Check the boxes that match your home.
This is a screening check for Plymouth winters, not a roof inspection.
(888) 480-6221Plymouth ice dam questions, any hourIce dam leak risk in Plymouth, MA
Cape roofs and kneewalls
Plymouth has thousands of Cape style homes. Their sloped upstairs ceilings leave little room for insulation, so heat warms the roof deck and melts the snow above it.
Cold eaves
Meltwater runs down to the overhang, which sits outside the heated house, and freezes into a ridge. The next melt pools behind that ridge and works under the shingles.
Where the water shows up
Ice dam water usually appears at the top of outside walls, around window heads and in kneewall closets, often days after the storm.
Already leaking? See ice dam water damage, roof leak water damage and ceiling leak water damage in Plymouth.
Ice Dam Leak Risk Check questions
What causes an ice dam?
Heat escaping from the house melts snow on the upper roof. The water refreezes at the cold eaves, and the next melt pools behind that ice and seeps under the shingles.
Are icicles a sign of an ice dam?
Thick icicles along the eaves usually mean meltwater is refreezing at the roof edge, which is how an ice dam builds.
Should I chip the ice off the roof?
Chipping and hammering can tear shingles and cause falls. A roof rake from the ground for the lower few feet of snow is the safer step.
Why does the leak show up days after the storm?
Meltwater soaks into insulation and wall cavities first. The stain on the ceiling or wall appears only after the materials fill up.
Does homeowners insurance cover ice dam leaks?
Interior water damage from an ice dam is often treated as sudden damage, but policies differ. Check with your own insurer about your coverage.
Numbers are only a starting point
Ceiling already stained? The Plymouth drying team responds 24/7.
Ice dam leaking into the house? Get the water out now.
Meltwater soaks kneewall insulation and outside walls before the stain shows. The drying team finds the water before it spreads.
(888) 480-6221Plymouth ice dam help, around the clock- Dispatch around the clock, storm nights included
- Drying held to the IICRC S500 standard
- Daily moisture logs for the claim file
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