Ice Dams and Water Damage Restoration

The dishes from Thanksgiving are barely put away and Jennifer Schack over at WLWT News 5 is saying those of us here in Cincinnati may see our first snowflakes of the season! With that in mind, it’s a good time to think about ice dams.

As their name implies, ice dams are buildups of ice near the edge of the roof that prevent water from properly running off the roof. This is particularly a problem for shingled roofs which are designed to have water flow down the roof. The ice dam allows water to sit on the roof and, eventually, back up under the shingles.  Once under the shingles, water will follow the path of least resistance into your house, leading to interior leaks and water damage.

The primary culprit of ice dams is what is known as a “warm roof.” Attics should have open ventilation points and proper insulation. The insulation prevents warm air from passing from the living areas into the attic. The ventilation points, usually at the eaves/soffits and at the peak, allow cold air to freely flow on the underside of the roof.

When this system isn’t working properly, snow on the higher/warmer parts of the roof can melt. The resulting cold water will then run down to the lower/colder edge of the roof where it refreezes, causing the ice dam to accumulate.

Unfortunately, even a little water can wreak havoc inside your home. Potential water damage problems can include:

• water stains on the drywall
• peeling paint
• damaged trim
• sagging ceilings
• rotted framing and roof deck
• soiled carpet and ruined carpet padding
• mold growth

As with most things in life, prevention is the best. If you are able to safely do so, check your attic to make sure vents aren’t blocked and insulation is in place.

Water Damage Restoration

When prevention fails, you can trust Extra Effort’s 32 years of water damage restoration experience to work with your insurance company in order to return your home or business back to its original state. Our trained professionals will respond quickly to answer any questions you have about mold, mildew, stain and moisture removal.

We start by bringing in our powerful water extraction systems, industrial air movers, dehumidifiers, and safe bacterial control agents to minimize the loss and protect your home or business. We will then work with you, and your insurance company, to evaluate what additional steps are needed. We have the expertise and capabilities to handle all restoration work, including removing and replacing carpet padding, drywall, insulation, and baseboards if needed. And, of course, we have the know-how to clean and restore your carpets.

You have my personal guarantee that our job isn’t complete until our state of the art moisture detecting equipment tells us your home or business is safe and restored to its original condition.

Questions? I am always available to answer your stain removal questions and concerns. Call us today at (513) 777-8770 to learn more about our carpet and upholstery cleaning services. Or email us at service@extra-effort.com to learn about this month’s cleaning special.

Elliott S. Fishman, Co-Owner
Extra Effort Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning, Inc.

About Elliott S. Fishman

Elliott Fishman, along with his son Brian, is the owner and operator of Extra Effort Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning, Inc.   We serve the residents and businesses of Greater Cincinnati to include West Chester, Mason, Maineville, Loveland, Wyoming, Fairfield, Indian Hill, Montgomery, Hyde Park and Anderson Township. Elliott started this company in 1984, based on the belief that it takes Extra Effort to make each job a success. The father/son team puts the extra time, extra care, and extra effort go into every task they undertake – no matter how large or small the job. Extra Effort’s quality equipment, trained technicians and safe products have made the company a top choice for residential and commercial carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, water damage / water extraction, fabric protection, odor control and spot removal.