Why is the attic warm enough to melt snow?
Heat escapes into the attic in two major ways. Conduction occurs when heat flows from warm materials to colder materials. Convection occurs when warm, moist air rises and leaks out of the living space, carrying heat with it. Typical attic insulation slows conduction but does not plug air leaks or prevent convection. How to correct and prevent ice dams. An immediate solution requires removal of the snow from the roof. A roof rake or broom will easily remove the snow but may damage roofing materials. Instead, try using a sidewalk snow melt product. Note: Performing work on a roof during winter is risking personal injury. Please contact a professional to do the job. To prevent further ice dams, first measure the attic insulation. If there is less than 12 inches of insulation, valuable heat is being wasted (remember that once you have reached R-44, adding more insulation does not provide any added benefit). Second, study the way snow is melting off the roof. Snow melting evenly from the en
