Why Do I Have Icicles Hanging From My Roof

As the temperature fluctuates the snow on your roof melts sending water down to the gutters.

Why do i have icicles hanging from my roof.

In this manner icicles get longer and thicker over time unless the temperature stays consistently warm or consistently cold for a long period. These ice dams can cause damage to the interior and exterior of your home and should be addressed sooner than later. Icicles are formed when rooftop snow melts then refreezes as it attempts to flow off the roof. Gutters will continue to be overwhelmed by melting snow from the roof which will cause a thicker layer of ice to form above the gutter edge and icicles will grow in size.

Icicles form when snow accumulates on your roof and then melts. Icicles don t always mean ice dams. Why do i have icicles on my roof. Poor ventilation can cause a buildup of warm air in the attic which can escape through your roof.

If your attic has insufficient insulation or improper ventilation so that your attic becomes warm this will heat the roof and cause the snow to melt. An ice dam is caused by a buildup of ice in your gutters. Icicles form simply because water running off a roof in above zero weather will start to freeze as the temperature drops below zero most often on mild sunny days followed by cold nights. Icicles can form when the ventilation in your attic isn t as effective as it could be.

Whether it s icicles or ice damming it could lead to water leakage in parts of the attic and even through the ceiling and walls. It s this very melting and refreezing process that causes ice dams in the first place. As it melts the water flows towards gutters or the edge of the roof where it freezes again forming icicles. When this warm air escapes it causes the snow on your roof to melt and then re freeze in the chilly air.

It s simply a result of insufficient attic insulation or poorly installed insulation. The presence of icicles can mean that heat is escaping from your home or business or that you have been through a freeze and thaw cycle. Though icicles are beautiful to look at they can also be a sign that an ice dam is forming under your roof. Small icicles are a normal part of life as a homeowner in west michigan so you don t necessarily need to be worried but you do need to pay attention and make sure no larger problems may be present.

This is a problem for two reasons. Icicles usually form right along the bottom edge of a roof. Small icicles along the edge of your roof.