3 Main Causes of Roof Leaks in the Winter

The winter season may not only have you dealing with several feet of snow; it might also cause some leaks in your roofing. Oftentimes, winter roof leaks are mainly caused by ice dams. But in other cases, the problem could be due to attic condensation or exhaust vent condensation.

Timberland Exteriors, a top-rated expert in roofing and fiber cement siding services, further discusses how these factors can cause roof leaks during winter.

Ice Dams

If your roof lacks proper insulation and ventilation, the warm temperature in your attic can cause condensation. Furthermore, this can also cause the snow on your roof to melt, accumulate in the gutters, and turn into ice dams. When ice dams melt during the daytime and then refreeze at night, the freezing water could possibly back up and seep under the shingles, ultimately causing a leak.

You can stop the leak by removing the snow on your roof and the ice dam. It’s best to leave this job to professionals as they have the right equipment to melt the ice dams safely and avoid any harm to your roof. And to prevent ice dams from causing a roof leak, always make sure that your roof is properly insulated. In a new roof installation project, roofers ensure that there is adequate insulation for the roofing system.

Attic Frost and Condensation

Attic frost is usually the result when warm, moist air comes in contact with the ice-cold roof deck and freezes. That is why you’ll commonly see the frost on the underside of the roof deck. But when the outdoor temperature rises above freezing, this causes the frost to melt. The frost has nowhere else to go but inside your home. This kind of leak isn’t actually a leak, but it’s important to resolve this issue immediately as it can possibly cause damage to your home.

Exhaust Vent Condensation

Frost can sometimes accumulate inside an exhaust vent, which is usually a bath vent duct where frost tends to travel through an unheated attic. Again, this type of leak is not actually a roof leak but a condensation issue. However, to be sure and to properly address the problem, you’ll need an expert to do a thorough inspection of the affected areas.

Timberland Exteriors is committed to providing excellent workmanship and customer satisfaction. From window installation service to roof replacement, you can count on our team to work on your project in an efficient and fastidious manner.

Call us at 651-439-1760 or fill out our contact form to request a free quote. We serve customers in Maplewood, MN, and the surrounding communities.