Regina, SK (Feb. 8, 2023) – Wildly changing temperatures combined with heavy snowfalls this winter could leave your house vulnerable to ice damming. This is an issue homeowners should be aware of and take steps to manage now – before it becomes a huge problem.
“When a house has a lot of snow on its roof, and outdoor temperatures fluctuate between melting and deep freeze, it can cause ice damming, which leads to water damage inside the home,” said Andrew Voroney, EVP and COO of SGI CANADA
How ice dams form
Snow that collects on the roof of a home can melt due to heat rising from an attic or warm outdoor temperatures. When that melted water reaches the eaves where there is no heat, it often re-freezes into a large ice block called an ice dam. That dam prevents melted snow from draining off the roof, where it then finds its way into the attic and walls of the home.
How to protect your home
The simplest way to prevent this damage is by removing snow from the roof, especially within two metres (six feet) of the eaves. You can safely do this by using a roof rake – a tool that consists of a snow rake on a long, extendable pole that can safely reach the eaves of the roof to remove snow. (Don’t leave snow piled up around your foundation, either; shovel it at least two metres away from your foundation to prevent seepage into your basement)
Other ways to prevent water damage, include making sure you have good ventilation in the attic and proper insulation.
Talk to your broker
Not all insurance policies have coverage for the damage caused by ice dams. Talk to your insurance broker to ensure you have the coverage in place that meets your needs. (And even if you are covered, it’s always best to avoid the damage to your home and disruption to your life by preventing one in the first place).
If you have an ice dam that does result in damage, do what you can to prevent further damage and contact your insurance broker as soon as possible to file a claim.
SGI CANADA will also be featuring more ice damming and home protection tips on our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages over the next few weeks.
About SGI CANADA
SGI CANADA is the property and casualty insurance division of SGI, offering products in five Canadian provinces. It operates as SGI CANADA in Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, and also as Coachman Insurance Company in Ontario. Products are sold through a network of independent insurance brokers. For more information, visit www.sgicanada.ca.
Source: Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI)
Tags: SGI
