Transforming your house into an energy-efficient Healthy Home™
home ice build up
March 3, 2021

The living situation for some New Yorkers has changed drastically since the pandemic started—meaning we have a lot of new neighbors here in Westchester county, lower Putnam County, and Fairfield county, and those new neighbors have a lot of questions about their new homes. This homeowner hit the nail on the head when he wrote in to the New York Times,  asking what to do about all of the snow and ice that is accumulating on his roof. 

And while there are some helpful tips in there for former Manhattanites, the building science and healthy home experts here at Healthy Home Energy & Consulting want you to know how to avoid the damages and health concerns that can accompany the ice and snow accumulation here in New York.

It’s Not Just Your Roof! A Closer Look at Ice Dams

One of the most concerning issues that affects homes in the winter is ice dams. Ice dams are an accumulation of re-frozen water that prevents future moisture from properly draining, leaving standing water that will infiltrate the attic, ceiling, and other vulnerable areas of a home. 

How Ice Dams Form

Though the icicles and dripping water of ice dams may appear to be on the roof, it is what is underneath the roof that leads to the formation of ice dams. 

The insulation in your home is supposed to slow down the transfer of heat between the indoor living space and the outdoor air. When your insulation is out of date, damaged, or wasn’t installed correctly in the first place, however, more and more of the furnace heat you pay for will rise up over your head, into the ceiling, and onto the roof. This heat then melts the snow, which drains to cooler areas before refreezing and creating an obstruction. 

Why Are Ice Dams Dangerous?

Not only do ice dams mean your home is not as comfortable or efficient as it could be, but they can also pose a threat to your health. As water is forced downward into your attic, it will further damage your remaining insulation. That moisture can quickly turn into mold, causing structural damage to wood and drywall and negatively affecting your indoor air quality (IAQ).

The Importance of IAQ

The quality of the air in your house is one of the primary ways Healthy Home Energy & Consulting measures the overall health of your home. When contaminants like mold, mildew, excess moisture, VOCs, and other chemicals are allowed to accumulate in your home, they can result in a number of symptoms such as:

  • Fatigue

  • Headaches

  • Sneezing and coughing

  • Insomnia 

  • A weakened immune system (more frequent colds and flu)

Through indoor air quality testing, air sealing, insulation, and ventilation if necessary, Healthy Home Energy & Consulting can increase the quality of the air you breathe each day—and it all starts with a Healthy Home Evaluation

Protect Your Home with a Healthy Home Evaluation 

No two homes will have the same path to health, so protecting your home from the damage of winter starts with evaluating your home from top to bottom. Our Healthy Home Evaluation is a safely performed, thorough diagnostic audit of how your home is performing, with the end goal of increasing the health of your home in mind. 

Schedule a healthy home evaluation today to invest in a healthier home tomorrow! Schedule your Healthy Home Evaluation by calling 914-242-9733 or get in touch here.

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