What are the indicators of an ice dam?
If you notice water damage (marks, drips or lines) on ceilings or exterior walls, it can be an indication that an ice dam has formed, and ice and water have forced their way into your attic area. In addition to fixing the cause of the ice dam, it is important to recognize that this is a true water damage situation that should be remediated by trained professionals, such as PuroClean, to prevent additional damage to the structure (such as rotting), and to prevent the development of mold – a health hazard to people inside of the structure.
How to stop an ice dam once it has occurred?
When it comes to water mitigation or water restoration, every situation is unique and needs to be evaluated by a professional. One option is to wait for a thaw. While waiting, water will continue to invade the home and will need to be collected. Once the dam thaws the water will stop invading into the home and professional drying can then begin. Some professional roofers will be able to remove the dam prior to a thaw. This is preferable as this means stopping the water from continuing to “drip” into the house. Once the dam is removed, professional drying can then begin. Professional drying may include injecting hot dry air into the wall cavities and the use of air movers with dehumidifiers.
Regardless of the circumstances – if water damage occurs from freezing or other sources, call your local PuroClean office. Your local Puroclean office can provide you a referral for a roofing company to help with the initial ice dam removal. For all water damage, smoke damage, mold damage or fire damage, PuroClean professionals will mitigate the loss to prevent further damage, assit in the water clean up and then provide restoration services to return the property to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. PuroClean has professional, well-trained and certified Technicians who provide water mitigation services employing the latest state-of-the-science services to all property damaged from water, fire, smoke, mold, and other disasters.
