Water Leaking From Snow On Roof

When snow melts the water runs down the roof re freezes at the overhangs and forms an ice build up.

Water leaking from snow on roof.

The leaks happened when warm weather melted snow on the roof. An ice dam occurs when snow melts and the water freezes when it hits the colder edges of your roof. In the photo you can still see signs of an ice dam. Generally the snow should be taken off such a roof.

Worn out flashing or missing sealant can also cause roof leaks around dormers. A roof leak at the edge of a dormer can allow a lot of water to enter your home. This roof leaks during the snowy part of winter and during storms in the summer certainly due to poor flashing. The backup of melted snow on the edge of your roof which can refreeze into ice is called an ice dam.

A flat roof especially one with a parapet on all sides that tends to keep snow from going over the edge is another story. When that blocked water from melted snow or ice cannot escape off of the roof it can accumulate and can back up to a depth that causes the water to find an opening to leak into the building. The soffit that meets the roof is one of the toughest areas to waterproof. It can happen however.

The melting snow is often caused by warm moist air escaping into the attic due to a poor vapour barrier. Providing a drainage path for such water accumulations is one way to stop ice dam leaks dead in their tracks. Athe water dripping from your soffit is a definite warning sign. Heat leaking up from your home is melting the snowpack in the tight roof canyon.

The cold weather turns the super chilled water to ice and the ice pack begins to get thicker and thicker creating a dam quite like hoover dam but a much smaller. As more snow melts more water runs down the roof and meets the ice build up or dam and backs up under the shingles and into the attic. Rotten or missing trim or siding can allow water to leak behind flashing and into your roof. If your house has icicles hanging off the edge of the roof this can be an indication of an ice dam formation on the roof.

Ice dams also can cause leaks as water backs up under the shingles on the portion of the roof that sits over the soffit. You re on the verge of having water come into your home. Dormer leaks can be caused from a number of issues.