Fill stockings with rock salt – any stockings will do. (Photo courtesy of Roma Costume, via Creative Commons, all rights reserved.)
A very brief and unadorned post about ice dams, which lots of people are contacting me about.
This is a very brief primer on what you need to do now, even if the roofer gets all the ice off. After you’ve taken care of the ice dams, be sure to read how to save money by keeping them away. Continue reading
Diagram of an inexpensive diagnostic tool most of us already own.
I’ve highlighted a number of cheap or free ways to find leaks in your home in earlier posts (and of course a free energy audit from Mass Save is always a top-choice.)
Here’s one more: If your hearing is good, you can actually –hear– a leaky house. Continue reading
A lot of people are getting ice dams this year… a lot of people get ice dams every year.Why? In most cases it is due to a lack of insulation, air-sealing, or both. (Spoiler: If you want to read the best, and most detailed, piece on this I’ve seen, read Martin Holladay’s article on Green Building Advisor.)
If you call a roofer they will usually tell you to install “ice shield” under the shingles as a solution. As you’ll see, that’s kind of like telling you to take medication because you keep getting food poisoning at your favorite restaurant. Better, of course, is to stop eating there.