Ice Dams Keep Residents, Insurance Adjusters Busy
Water From Ice Dams Leaking Into Homes
Updated: 8:55 am CST February 29, 2008
MADISON, Wis. -- Ice dams that have been forming on area roofs are affecting homeowners and keeping local insurance adjusters busy.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportSince December, ice dams are to blame for water leaking into hundreds of Dane County homes, WISC-TV reported.Vicki Andrews, from American Family Insurance, said it's the worst she's seen in at least the last 10 years. She said adjusters have been working at capacity to assess damage."Between December and January, we've had two large influxes of these ice dam claims," Andrews said. "The catastrophe department has handled upwards of 700 of those -- over and above what our own local adjusters are handling."Ice dams occur when snow or water freeze on a roof. During a mild thaw, the water pools above that ice, creating a dam -- and the water has nowhere to go but inside the structure. Giant icicles are a classic sign of ice damming.But it's not too late for residents to get a head start on Mother Nature. Expects said that the best bet for homeowners is to use a roof rake to take down some of the snow from the edges of the roof.Experts said it's best for those who have large icicles hanging from their homes to leave them because removing them could cause damage.The group Focus on Energy said the most common cause of ice dams is poor insulation or air sealing.The group said it's best to get a full inspection if a home has ice dam problems because a fix could mean an increase in the home's energy efficiency.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportSince December, ice dams are to blame for water leaking into hundreds of Dane County homes, WISC-TV reported.Vicki Andrews, from American Family Insurance, said it's the worst she's seen in at least the last 10 years. She said adjusters have been working at capacity to assess damage."Between December and January, we've had two large influxes of these ice dam claims," Andrews said. "The catastrophe department has handled upwards of 700 of those -- over and above what our own local adjusters are handling."Ice dams occur when snow or water freeze on a roof. During a mild thaw, the water pools above that ice, creating a dam -- and the water has nowhere to go but inside the structure. Giant icicles are a classic sign of ice damming.But it's not too late for residents to get a head start on Mother Nature. Expects said that the best bet for homeowners is to use a roof rake to take down some of the snow from the edges of the roof.Experts said it's best for those who have large icicles hanging from their homes to leave them because removing them could cause damage.The group Focus on Energy said the most common cause of ice dams is poor insulation or air sealing.The group said it's best to get a full inspection if a home has ice dam problems because a fix could mean an increase in the home's energy efficiency.
Previous Stories:
- December 19, 2007: Snow, Ice Weighing Heavily On Rooftops
- December 13, 2007: Ice Dams Cause Problems For Homeowners
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