Myth 1: Gutters Are the Cause of Ice Dams
This is one of the most persistent ice dam myths in Central Michigan. Many people believe that if they just removed their gutters, the ice wouldn’t form. In reality, ice dams start on the roof, not in the gutter. They are caused by heat escaping from your attic, melting the snow, which then refreezes at the cold eaves.
Gutters might collect the ice, but they don’t create it. Removing them only ensures that the melting ice dumps directly onto your foundation.
Myth 2: Putting Salt in a Sock Fixes the Problem
In the world of ice dam myths in Central Michigan, the “salt sock” is a famous DIY trick. The idea is to fill a pantyhose with rock salt and lay it across the ice. While this will melt a channel through the ice, the salt is highly corrosive. It can damage your shingles, rust your aluminum gutters, and kill the expensive landscaping below when the brine washes away in the spring.
It’s a chemical “Band-Aid” that often leaves behind permanent damage to your home’s exterior.
Myth 3: New Shingles Will Stop Ice Dams
New shingles are great for stopping leaks, but shingles alone do not prevent ice dams. This is a common entry in the list of ice dam myths in Central Michigan. You can have the most expensive roof in the world, but if your attic is poorly insulated and unventilated, ice will still form.
Ice dam prevention is a system-wide effort that requires a cold roof deck, high-performance ice and water shield, and proper attic airflow.
Myth 4: You Should Shovel Your Entire Roof
While removing heavy snow is sometimes necessary, you don’t need to clear the whole roof. One of the riskier ice dam myths in Central Michigan is that you need to be up there with a shovel. Scraping shingles in freezing temperatures can knock off the protective granules and shorten your roof’s life.
If you must remove snow, use a “roof rake” from the ground to clear the first 3 to 6 feet of the roof edge. This breaks the cycle of the dam without risking a fall or damaging your shingles.
Call Energy Plus Home Improvements
Don’t let myths ruin your roof. Energy Plus Home Improvements can help you find the real solution to your winter moisture problems through proper insulation and ventilation.
