... these are a few of the things we love.
Wait, no, we don't. And apologies to the Murmaids for paraphrasing their lyrics.
These are a few of the things we got, however, during Halloween Weekend here in northeast Pennsylvania. Really, you could have turned into a popsicle around here on Saturday. And while the icicles were minimal, they're the thing that's going to be a sign you've got the potential for a problem with ice damming.
Most homes aren't built with a heavy, waterproof roll of special material extending around the base of the roof upwards for three feet. Homes without it are more susceptible to ice damming than those with it.
An ice dam is simple. Melting snow collects in a gutter that isn't working because it's clogged or full of frozen slush. In addition to spilling over and forming icicles, it also can back up. And when it does, it can back up UNDER your shingles and come into contact with the wood of your sheathing. From there it's a matter of time to cause rot and a matter of construction and luck whether it drips down onto your interior ceilings and walls, causing more damage.
That's the bad news.
The good news is that your homeowner insurance often covers ice damming. It's one more reason to read the insurance policy.
So don't shrug your shoulders and put the burden of repairs on your already stretched household budget. Call your insurance agent and ask if it's covered. If you get a response filled with bafflegab that amounts to either "no" or a token offer of a small amount of money, call in a public insurance adjuster. You may be unpleasantly surprised at what a real repair costs, including damage to the interior. You may be pleasantly surprised at how much more the public adjuster can get the insurance company to pay for.
Just something to think about next time you're admiring a seven-foot icicle hanging off your groaning (and probably pulled loose and bent) gutter. (That's covered too. :-) )
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