Why Does Snow Melt Off Some Roofs And Not Others

If your roof is warm enough to melt the snow but it s cold enough outside for snow to refreeze your roof is losing heat.

Why does snow melt off some roofs and not others.

This allows ice and snow to melt even though air temperatures may be below freezing. Sometimes lots of uniform snow on the roof isn t a good indicator of an efficient house though. It too kept snow on the roof longer than any other house around. In vacant homes with the heat turned low the snow doesn t melt much either.

In addition to providing clues to your home s heat loss problems melting snow on your roof can also be the cause of another issue. They result in more of your house s heat getting into the attic and being trapped there. If your roofing is asphalt shingles the snow should stay for days unless the air temperature rises above 32 degrees. For this reason a roof or attack lacking sufficient insulation is the perfect breeding ground for mold and mild particularly during snow melt.

I saw that in some of the condo buildings where i live. Have you noticed that snow melts quicker on some roofs rather than others it s a big tell on how good your insulation is. Excess snow on the roof can weaken and potentially collapse a structure particularly an older building with a shallow pitched roof. Snow melting on a roof can refreeze into ice dams which force subsequent snow melt to leak into the structure.

The most likely is inadequate insulation and poor ventilation. If it melts unevenly make a note of where the bare roofing shows through. We are properly licensed bonded and insured and are the top rated ice dam removal company in the us. The darker the surface like asphalt or roof tops the warmer it can get.

When the warm air your house emanates meets the cold surface of your roof condensation naturally occurs. Why do i need to get the snow removed from my roof. Call us at 1 800 ice dams if you have an ice dam on your roof and live anywhere in the lower 48 including in hard hit minnesota illinois and wisconsin. First the most common way is when the sun heats the ground to above freezing.

That s not healthy for your energy bills or the environment. The second way snow disappears in subfreezing temperatures is through a process known as sublimation. Because the snow is melting from a heat loss on your roof and not because of warming temperatures the melted snow can refreeze once it travels from your roof creating ice dams that appear as icicles on the eaves and gutters.