Ice Dams? It’s Time to Insulate

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We’re in the thick of another long Maine winter, and if you are already tired of shoveling your sidewalks and driveways, you’re not alone. As you manage the snow around your house this year, there is one area you may be forgetting to keep a close eye on: your roof.

The roof is a common site for ice dams and icicles during the winter. If you’re starting to see ice accumulation along your roof’s edge, it is a sure sign that it’s time to upgrade your attic insulation.

Why Upgrade My Attic Insulation?

Homeowners often ask us what ice dams have to do with attic insulation. The answer has to do with how ice dams form in the first place.

Ice dam formation begins in a warm attic. Attic heat melts accumulated snow on the roof, which then flows down to the edge of the roof where it is cooler. When that melted snow reaches the roof’s edge, it refreezes and forms a “dam.” Over time, water will pool up behind this dam and seep underneath the shingles, potentially leading to mold growth, wet insulation, interior water stains, and exterior roof damage.

If you want to keep ice dams from forming, it’s important to keep heat from escaping into the attic in the first place. While heat has a natural tendency to rise in a home, attic insulation and air sealing stop rising heat from entering the attic and keep it down in your living spaces where it belongs.

Attic Insulation Offers Additional Benefits

Proper attic insulation and air sealing go a long way in keeping ice dams from forming on your roof during the winter — but that’s not the only benefit these energy saving upgrades offer. When you have a trusted insulation specialist upgrade your attic insulation, you can expect whole-home benefits like:

  • A warmer home in the winter

  • Stable comfort from room to room

  • Less need to run your heating system

  • Greater home energy efficiency

  • Lower annual heating costs

  • A cooler home in the summer

Plus, because attic insulation helps make your home more energy efficient, it qualifies for up to $2,500 in rebates from Efficiency Maine.

Evergreen Is Your Local Insulation Contractor

Don’t spend another winter putting your home at risk of the damage that ice dams can cause. If you’re seeing ice dams and icicles along the edge of your roof, talk to the team at Evergreen Home Performance about upgrading your attic insulation before your ice dams cause any damage. During a free consult, we’ll discuss your home’s pain points and show you how attic insulation can help you prevent ice dams, save money, and feel more comfortable all winter.

Seeing ice dams on your roof? It’s time for an insulation upgrade. Call 207-594-2244 or contact us to talk to your local home insulation expert!

Ice dams and icicles on your roof?

Prevent damage to your home with proper insulation 207-594-2244

We initially contacted Evergreen through Efficiency Maine for an energy audit, which was conducted promptly and professionally by Justin McEdward, one of their Energy Advisors who is BPI-certified. After a thorough inspection of our newly purchased home, Justin explained in great detail what we needed and did not need. It was agreed that Evergreen would remove all of the existing attic insulation, which was not adequate, and replace it with blown in cellulose, to a rating of R-60.

Thomas W.

Scarborough

Evergreen came back this year to finish insulating our house. We have been remodeling and renovating an 1850s cape for several years. Their employees are very professional and pleasant to deal with. Over several years Brian Robinson has been able to schedule us in for several small areas that needed addressing and finally turning a room we used to close off in the winter into a comfortable usable space. We primarily heat with wood and since Evergreens great work our furnace has only come on ONCE this winter. Fantastic. Really satisfied customer in Thomaston.

Chris F.

Thomaston

"Working with Evergreen from start to finish was a great experience." See what our customers have to say about their experience with Evergreen Home Performance. 

Jeff L.

Greetings one and all! I am writing to express my gratitude to all involved in my insulation project.  From start to finish, I appreciate the universal theme which was maintained by each and every one of you, to ensure that my home was insulated and protected from freezing pipes as if it was your home. Andrea, thanks for helping me navigate my way to the project. Nate, thanks for the thorough initial assessment and the time you took to explain this project to me, step by step. Brian, thanks for setting up my project - so happy

Michele

The Evergreen Team did a fabulous job, well exceeding our expectations, In just over a week they transformed our very drafty, noisy 213 year old house into a snug, draft-free, quiet haven with warm floors! The team was prompt, did everything they said they'd do and more. We are thrilled!

Trudy M.

Bridgton

I never leave reviews, but had a great experience with Evergreen and wanted to spread the word! In short, we worked with them to insulate our roof this winter and have noticed surprising immediate results. The constant ice dams I have wrestled with are completely gone, and the home is noticeably more comfortable. It's a little too early to tell if our oil bill is going to reduce, but I imagine we will see an impact there as well.

Joel W.

Portland

Our house still the most efficient home we’ve ever lived in. And we have you folks to thank for that! A special howdy to Brian Robinson please!

Bruce O’Donal and Eva Butler

Awesome company. It was a few years ago that they did the audit and then we commissioned them to do the work. We subsequently sold our house and moved to South Africa, but their level of service and expertise will live on.

Odette Brown

Really great experience from start to finish with Evergreen. They helped us prioritize what needed to be completed first, and has made a significant difference in our hearing costs already. Plus they were really friendly and considerate to work with!

Amy W.

Kennebunk

The Evergreen crew who installed insulation in my attic were fantastic! They were very professional, worked exceedingly hard, and they did an excellent job. They were very pleasant and friendly to be around. They cleaned up beautifully after each work day, and left my home in great shape on when they walked out the door for the last time. I can't believe they were able to accomplish all that they did with heat soaring into the 80s and 90s. It was pretty unbearable up there! They have my highest praise and my gratitude.

Cynthia F.

South Portland

My husband and I bought a home on the water in Owls Head and decided to make the investment in Evergreen's recommendations for insulation. Brian Robinson spent 3 hours examining every nook and cranny before he made practical suggestions and explained them thoroughly to us.

Marie McNeely

Owls Head

Led by Brian Robinson, the Evergreen Home Performance team just completed an insulation refit at my home. It was truly a great experience from start to finish, a period of time that was a fraction of the time that I originally anticipated due to the team's unbelievable work habits and professional knowledge of their tasks. As impressive were the communication skills and friendliness of each and every member of the team.

Anne W.

Rockport

Update 12/2018: Evergreen has completed Phase II of my house (insulating and installing air/moisture barrier on exterior walls, replacing old windows) and now that heating season is upon us, the difference is astonishing. The house is tight as a drum and so easy to keep warm. Worth every penny. Thank you all! Working with Evergreen was a positive experience from start (no charge energy audit) to finish (a MUCH more comfortable home). Brian Robinson spent a lot of time with me on the audit, explaining clearly what he was finding in my ca.

Rebekah W.

Rockport

Several years ago Brian Robinson evaluated the crawl space at my summer home on Islesboro where I knew moisture was becoming a problem. I had done quite a bit of work in the space many years prior with mixed results. When Brian offered some suggestions, they were ideas that incorporated work previously done, and would be a relatively low cost effort to improve the situation. He offered this advice over several phone conversations of some length, informally, and at no charge.

Cliff R.

Islesboro

The Evergreen crew from initial inception to installation were professional, on time, and left our place spotless. The end result was exceptional.

John Brown

Portland Buy Local
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