Ice Dam Removal Can Be Costly; Are You Covered?

Now that winter is here in full force, you may notice icicles hanging from your roof after a storm.  While they may look pretty, they could be just the tip of the iceberg – or the ice dam to be more precise.  Ice dams can cause significant damage to your home without you even realizing it until spring.

Ice dams are formed after snowstorms when the heat from attics melts the under layer of snow on a roof causing water to flow downward toward the gutters.  Once that water gets to the colder edge of the roof, it refreezes causing a blockage.  That blockage prevents water from draining properly and could make it seep under the shingles causing serious water damage.

Removing ice dams from your roof can be costly, but the damage they can cause may end up costing even more.  Water seeping into the roof can cause numerous problems such as damaged ceilings, damaged personal items, and mold.  Your homeowner’s insurance will most likely cover your home for some of that damage, but only up to the limits you have set on your policy and only if the specific damage is a named peril.

Depending on the type of homeowner’s insurance policy you carry, you may have coverage for ice dam removal.  Your insurance carrier may look at the removal process as a preventative measure to keep damage at bay.  However, they might want to survey the issue first before agreeing to pay for the removal.   Before you schedule an appointment with an ice dam removal specialist and have him come remove your ice dam, review your homeowner’s insurance policy to see if you have coverage for ice dam removal.  If you are not sure, contact your insurance agent to find out.  It may save you some time, money, and a lot of unnecessary problems down the road.