Ice Dam Leaking Into the House in Boise: What to Do Right Now

Is it an ice dam? Signs to look for

Ice dam leaks tend to show up in certain places and at certain times. Here’s a quick check:

That last check is worth trying, because ice dam leaks are easy to mistake for a burst pipe. During Idaho’s heavy-snow winter of 2017, a local plumbing and heating company told KTVB it got a lot of calls about water coming through the ceiling from people who thought a pipe had broken, when an ice dam was to blame (KTVB). Our guide to water coming through the ceiling covers other common sources.

How an ice dam ends up inside your house

An ice dam starts with heat from the house, not with the roof. The Building America Solution Center, a U.S. Department of Energy resource developed with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, says ice dams need three things: snow on the roof, an attic that isn’t well air sealed or insulated, and freezing outdoor temperatures. Warm air that escapes into the attic “can warm the underside of the roof deck,” melting the snow above it. The water runs down to the colder roof edge and freezes again (PNNL Building America Solution Center).

Day after day, that ice builds into a ridge, and more meltwater pools behind it. As KTVB meteorologist Sophia Bliss put it, snowmelt “can get trapped behind the ice dam” and seep under the shingles, and “once that happens, you can have a leak in your house” (KTVB).

Often the water soaks the attic insulation before you ever see a stain. In a KTVB report, the president of an ice dam removal company compared insulation to “a sponge” that starts dripping into the house once it’s saturated (KTVB). That’s why a small ceiling stain can mean more water above it than you’d guess.

Why ice dams catch Boise homeowners off guard

As a KTVB report put it, southwest Idaho doesn’t typically have to deal with ice dams (KTVB). So when a snowy stretch finally brings them, many people are facing one for the first time, and it can hit many homes at once. In January 2017, KIVI reported that ice dams were damaging insulation and drywall in Treasure Valley homes. One Boise homeowner described coming home to “this bubble” on his wall, with the paint peeling off, and a local emergency home repair company said its phones had been “ringing non-stop” (KIVI). In another KTVB report, a Meridian homeowner described a leak that began as a “drip, drip, drip” and soon soaked a bedroom ceiling, a wall, and the carpet (KTVB).

If you see icicles thickening after a big snow, it’s worth keeping an eye on your top-floor ceilings and outside walls.

Inside the house: the first 30 minutes

1. 1

   Stay safe around wet ceilings and lights

   Ice dam water often runs along the attic framing and finds its way to ceiling light fixtures, fans, and smoke alarms. Ready.gov advises, “Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water,” and says to turn off the electricity “if it is safe to do so.” Leave wet fixtures off. Turn off the breaker for that room only if you can reach the panel while standing on dry ground. If water is near the panel, stay away and call an electrician.

   Thinking about draining a small ceiling bubble? Our ceiling leak guide explains when that’s reasonable and when to leave it alone.

2. 2

   Catch the water and protect your things

   Put buckets or storage bins under each drip, with towels around them for splashes. If water is running down a wall or window frame, lay towels along the floor and windowsill. Move beds, furniture, rugs, electronics, and important papers out of the room, and cover anything too heavy to move with a plastic sheet.

3. 3

   Take photos and video before you clean up

   Get wide shots of each affected room, then close-ups of stains, drips, and wet walls or carpet. From the ground, at a safe distance, photograph the icicles and the ice along your roof’s edge. These photos show your insurer what happened and when.

4. 4

   Check the attic only if it’s safe

   If you have easy attic access, bring a flashlight and step only on the joists or a walkway, never on the drywall between them. Look for wet, matted insulation near the eaves, and don’t touch any wiring. Knowing where the wet spots are helps the people you call later.

Stay off the roof, and put down the hammer

Other safety and consumer groups agree:

• The Center for Energy and Environment, a Minneapolis nonprofit, says, “Do not get up on the roof and try to break apart an ice dam,” because it “is not worth the risk” (Center for Energy and Environment).
• United Policyholders, a nonprofit that helps people with insurance claims, says, “Do not use a snow blower, shovel or blowtorch to try to chip, break or melt ice dams” (United Policyholders).
• Minnesota’s Department of Commerce says, “Do not remove ice with chippers, chemicals or heat” (Minnesota Department of Commerce).

An ice dam removal company told KTVB that hammering or chiseling the ice can damage gutters and roofing. Pouring hot water isn’t a good shortcut either: roofers told the station it isn’t the right approach for every house, and the extra water can make a leak worse (KTVB).

If you own a long-handled roof rake, you can gently pull snow off the lower edge of a single-story roof from the ground, though the Center for Energy and Environment notes raking can damage shingles. Stay clear of falling ice and power lines. Anything that needs a ladder is a job for a pro.

Who to call: usually two different jobs

An ice dam leak is really two problems: ice that’s still letting water in, and water that’s already inside. Different companies usually handle each.

For the ice, Minnesota’s Department of Commerce suggests a removal service that uses steamers when an ice dam is already causing water damage inside (Minnesota Department of Commerce). A technician interviewed by KTVB in the Treasure Valley described clearing the snow and then using low-pressure steam to melt the ice off the roof (KTVB).

For the inside, a removal crew usually doesn’t dry out your house. A restoration crew can check moisture with meters, run fans and dehumidifiers, and remove wet materials that can’t be saved.

Drying out ceilings, walls, and insulation

The EPA says, “It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth” (US EPA). With an ice dam, that clock can be hard to beat, because water may keep coming in until the ice is dealt with. That’s one more reason to get both calls started early.

A few things are specific to ice dam leaks:

• The wettest material is often out of sight. Soaked attic insulation and wall cavities can stay wet long after the ceiling looks dry, so ask the crew whether wet insulation should come out. The EPA lists roof materials above ceiling tiles, “due to roof leaks or insufficient insulation,” among the places mold can hide.
• Hold off on paint. Don’t patch or paint a stain until the leak has stopped and moisture readings show the area is dry. Paint over damp drywall can trap moisture, and the stain usually comes back.

If mold does appear, the EPA says you can usually clean an area smaller than about 10 square feet yourself. For larger areas, consider professional help, and if you have health concerns, talk to a health professional first.

What homeowners insurance usually says about ice dams

Every policy is different, so your own policy has the final word. Still, consumer and insurer guides describe a common pattern:

Here’s what several sources say:

• Connecticut’s Insurance Department says, “Interior or exterior damage caused by an ice dam on a roof is generally covered,” but adds that many policies don’t pay to remove the ice dam (Connecticut Insurance Department).
• Progressive says dwelling coverage may pay for water damage from melting ice “if the damage was sudden and accidental,” but that damage that builds up over time “from a lack of maintenance” likely won’t be covered (Progressive).
• Policygenius notes that if your roof “was already in poor shape and the ice dam causes gradual water damage, home insurance may not cover you” (Policygenius).
• United Policyholders says ice dam damage is generally covered if you give your insurer timely notice and the damage wasn’t caused only by known, pre-existing roof problems (United Policyholders).

Belongings can be treated differently, too. Lemonade, for example, says its policy should cover interior damage from melting ice but not ice dam damage to your personal property (Lemonade). Read your own policy, or ask your agent to walk you through it.

To protect your claim, the Idaho Department of Insurance suggests:

• Take photos or video of the damage before cleanup.
• Keep receipts for anything you buy or pay for to prevent more damage.
• Don’t throw anything out until your adjuster says it’s okay.
• Read any contractor’s contract carefully before you sign it.

Report the damage to your insurer soon, and write down your claim number. If you have questions about how your claim is being handled, the department’s consumer hotline is 800-721-3272. Our guide to water damage insurance claims in Idaho walks through the whole process.

Choosing help without getting rushed

After a big snow, crews get busy fast, and you may get knocks on the door. United Policyholders warns about “door to door solicitors acting as public adjusters without a license” (United Policyholders). Before you sign, ask how the ice will be removed, how the price will be set, and whether the paperwork signs over your insurance payments. Our guide on how to choose a water damage company in Boise covers the red flags in more detail.

Once the thaw comes: preventing the next one

You don’t need to solve this tonight. Once things dry out, a few fixes can keep it from happening again.

• Seal attic air leaks. The Building America Solution Center calls sealing the leaks between your living space and the attic “the most important step” (PNNL Building America Solution Center). In Idaho, a heating and cooling company told KTVB to make sure supply and return ducts are properly sealed (KTVB).
• Add attic insulation. Minnesota’s Department of Commerce recommends at least R-50 where space allows (Minnesota Department of Commerce). Ask a local pro what fits your home.
• Have the ventilation checked. The Solution Center says venting the roof helps “keep the roof cool” in cold climates, while Minnesota’s Department of Commerce advises against simply adding roof vents, saying they often make the problem worse. Ask a pro to look at the attic as a whole.
• Clear the roof edge after big snows. United Policyholders suggests keeping snow off the lower three to six feet of the roof, and the same rule applies: only from the ground.

What about heat cables? Opinions are mixed. A plumbing company manager told KTVB that heat tape along the roof edge or in gutters can help (KTVB). But Minnesota’s Department of Commerce advises against them, saying they “shorten the life of your roof” and raise energy bills, and the Center for Energy and Environment says they’re hard on roofs and expensive to run. Either way, cables don’t fix the heat loss behind the problem.