Over the past five years my career in insurance has given me the opportunity to learn a lot about home construction. Inspecting a home for insurability and learning what Insurance Underwriters deem acceptable has taught me some do’s and don’ts of home construction, remodeling and maintenance. One very common issue here in the Region is older homes that are poorly insulated and vented.
Have you ever seen a large number of icicles on a home or building a few days after a snow? If you look closely you might notice the absence of snow further up on the roof. The snow has melted due to a partially warm roof then refroze at the roofs edge causing the icicles and potentially an ice dam. As addition snow melts and runs to the dammed ice it can cause water to pool and enter your home causing damage.
You can prevent this from happening by keeping a cold roof. There are several things you can do the achieve this. First, close up attic gaps and cracks that may allow your homes interior heat to escape into the attic raising the attics air temperature. Next measure your attic insulation level. On a newly constructed home building codes will require about 12 to 14 inches of insulation depending on your local code. Finally, make sure your homes roof and soffit are vented properly. Your attic should be the same temperature as the outside with ventilation that draws colder outdoor air in and warmer attic air out.
Not only does a properly insulated and vented home prevent Ice Damming and possible damage, it can save you money annually on your heating bill. It was Benjamin Franklin who once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. If you’re interested in learning more ways to save money on your home consider contacting me today for a home insurance review.