Ice Dams and Water Damage in New York
An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and stops melting snow from draining away. The water that builds up behind it has nowhere to go but under the shingles and into the house, where it soaks ceilings, walls and insulation.
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Ice dams are a familiar New York winter problem, and the water damage they cause is often found in the ceiling of an upper room, far from where the ice sits on the roof.
Ice dams in general terms
An ice dam forms when snow on a roof melts, runs down to the colder edge of the roof, and refreezes there. Over time the ice builds into a dam, and the meltwater behind it pools on the roof surface and finds its way under shingles and flashing.
The process is driven by heat loss from the house warming the roof, combined with cold air at the eaves. It is a winter problem, and it tends to appear after heavy snow followed by a thaw.
Ceiling and wall damage in general terms
Water from an ice dam usually shows up first as a stain or damp patch on the ceiling of an upper room, or as water running down inside a wall. The damage can include stained and sagging drywall, wet insulation and damaged paint, and it can be extensive before anyone looks at the roof.
Because the water enters from above, the source is often not where the stain is. A stain in the middle of a ceiling may come from an ice dam at the edge of the roof, and finding it needs a look at the roof itself. Our page on ceiling and wall water damage repair explains how ceiling and wall damage is handled.
Roof work scope
Removing an ice dam and repairing the roof are separate from the water damage cleanup inside the house, and the scope of roof work is something the operator should confirm before any roof work is promised. Do not climb onto an icy roof yourself to clear a dam.
Inside the house, the priority is to contain the water, move belongings away from the drip, and keep out of any room where the ceiling is sagging. A sagging ceiling may be unsafe, so do not stand under it.
What to do first
If you find water coming in from an ice dam, contain it with buckets and towels, move valuables away, and call a professional. Take photos of the stain and the drip, and note when the leak started and whether it follows snow and thaw cycles.
In the Capital Region, ice dam water damage help in Albany follows the same first steps, and water damage restoration covers the drying and repair that follow once the leak is stopped.
Key Takeaways
- An ice dam forms when snow on a roof melts, runs down to the colder edge of the roof, and refreezes there.
- Water from an ice dam usually shows up first as a stain or damp patch on the ceiling of an upper room, or as water running down inside a wall.
- Removing an ice dam and repairing the roof are separate from the water damage cleanup inside the house, and the scope of roof work is something the operator should confirm before any roof work is promised.
- If you find water coming in from an ice dam, contain it with buckets and towels, move valuables away, and call a professional.
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