Powered Attic Fan Ice Dam

This causes the snow near the top will melt trickle down and create a dam.

Powered attic fan ice dam. Cold air at the lower part of the roof. First snow or ice must accumulate on the roof and certain conditions must be in place to cause temperature extremes throughout the roof. Only running the fan in the summer extended its life and it will cause more harm even to the fan motor itself in the colder months and it does not allow the fan to reduce moisture build up in the attic at all at these times and does not allow the fan to prevent ice dams during the winter. The whole reason your attic is hot in the first place is that there are leaks or poor insulation between your attic and your living space.

Although setting up fans in your attic will expel hot air they won t help you prevent ice dams. Ice dams occur when high roof points are above 32 and lower roof points and outside air temps are below 32. Heavy snow coverage on the roof acting as a layer of insulation preventing heat loss. Solar powered attic fans help homeowners manage conditions that lead to ice dams.

To prevent this problem add extra insulation to your attic and roof which will decrease warm air from escaping as it rises and thus stop snow and the. If those two are fixed the potential for ice dams is quite minimal. There are two factors that lead to the creation of an ice dam. When the melted water at the eave refreezes it allows the water to backup thus causing ice dams.

The two main driving factors behind ice dams are attic air leaks and insufficient insulation. Warm air rising to the peak of the attic causing snow to melt and flow to the eave. Attic ventilation is required by code but it s not an ice dam elixir.