Even for Maine, the weather has been irregular over the past several weeks with areas of the state seeing temperature variations of up to 60 degrees with a January thaw following an extended cold snap.
While the break in the cold was a welcome winter respite for a lot of Mainers, it also created headaches for property owners who found evidence of water damage thanks to ice jams on roofs or have had thawing water seep into walls or around windows.
An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof, preventing melting snow and water from draining off. The water can back up behind the “dam” and find its way inside through cracks or holes and end up seeping into walls, ceilings and insulation inside walls.
Ice dams are a common result of a winter thaw, according to several online home repair sites.
This build up of ice can also damage flashing or shingles on roofs, which in turn can create new pathways for water to enter the home.
The County is pleased to feature content from our sister company, Bangor Daily News. To read the rest of “Recent freeze-thaw cycle can leave homeowners with water headaches,” an article by contributing Bangor Daily News staff writer Julia Bayly, please follow this link to the BDN online.
