Ice Dam Water Damage in Bloomington, MN
An ice dam forces meltwater up under the shingles and down into the top of a wall, where it can sit unnoticed for days. A thermal camera shows the drying team where it went, and only the wet spots are opened.
(888) 432-4933Meltwater inside? Call the crew
Meltwater that gets past an ice dam does not drip right away. It soaks the attic insulation, runs along the ceiling drywall and creeps down inside the outside wall, so a small stain usually hides a much bigger wet area.
First steps for ice dam water damage in Bloomington
Rake the lowest course
Use a roof rake standing on the ground, and keep off ladders.
Catch the drips
Set pails under the leak and slide furniture clear of the stain.
Stay out from under it
A bulging ceiling holds water and can drop without warning.
Document inside and out
Photograph the ice, the icicles and each stain.
How ice dam water damage is handled in Bloomington
The tech who does the walkthrough maps moisture before any equipment goes down, so the drying plan matches what is actually wet. Equipment stays until the readings say dry, not until it looks dry.
- 1
Scan
Infrared and meters outline the wet ceiling and the wall tops below the eaves.
- 2
Open small
Narrow openings release soaked insulation and let drying air in.
- 3
Set the drying
Air movers, LGR dehumidifiers and cavity airflow run as one system.
- 4
Prove it
Readings are logged daily until the drywall and framing pass.
Why snow turns into a leak
Warm air from the living space heats the roof deck, melts the snow above it and sends water to the cold eaves, where it refreezes as a ridge. Water backs up behind that ridge, finds the nail holes and seams in the shingles and drops into the building. The city counts ice dams, along with frozen ground and clogged storm inlets, as spring flood risks.
- Heated air seeping past can lights, duct boots and the attic hatch.
- Ice in the gutters that keeps meltwater against the fascia.
- Alternating thaw and freeze through late winter.
What the drying team does inside
Infrared images of the ceilings and the walls below the eaves direct where the moisture meters go. Wet insulation is pulled out through the attic or a small ceiling cut, because it cannot dry where it lies. Air movers and LGR dehumidifiers go in, wall cavities get air injected, and each day's readings go in the log. A ceiling that has begun to bulge is handled the way ceiling leak water damage describes.
- Drywall that stayed wet for days is tested for softness first.
- Wall tops at windows and doors, just below the eaves, are checked for water.
- Roof repairs and ice removal go to a roofer, while the inside dry-out starts immediately.
Claim notes and where to start
Adjusters often treat water that enters from an ice dam as sudden interior damage, with the roof repair listed on its own. Dated pictures of the ice, the icicles and each stain, together with the moisture map, build the file. Coverage depends on your policy, so check with your own insurer. The risk check for frozen pipes and ice dams shows where a house is exposed, and Bloomington water damage restoration lists every service.
Ice dam water damage across Bloomington and nearby towns
Ice dam work covers ZIP 55420, 55425, 55431, 55435, 55437 and 55438, and neighborhoods from West Bloomington and Penn Lake to the Normandale Lake District, Oxboro and the Southtown Center area.
The same service nearby: ice dam water damage in Burnsville, Savage, Eagan.
Water damage restoration in Bloomington · every town covered
Related water damage services in Bloomington
Ice Dam Water Damage questions in Bloomington, MN
01Do ice dams mean the roof needs replacing?
Not by themselves. They point to heat loss and weak ventilation in the attic, and a roofer can say whether the shingles were damaged.
02Why is the ceiling still damp weeks after the thaw?
Moisture trapped in batting and stud bays keeps migrating and releases slowly, so meters, not the calendar, say when it is dry.
03Is it safe to knock the ice off the eaves?
Hacking at ice can tear shingles, and ladders are dangerous when it is icy. A roof rake used from the ground is the safer way, and full removal is a roofer's job.
04What happens to the wet insulation?
Saturated insulation holds water against the framing and will not dry in place, so it is removed and later replaced.
05Will insurance pay for the interior damage?
It is often covered as sudden water damage. Review the policy, and keep the photos and daily drying logs.
06Which months bring ice dams in Bloomington?
Late winter mostly, once a big snowfall meets a sunny stretch or a warm-up that heats the upper roof.
Ice dam leak in Bloomington? Get the drying going.
Insulation and drywall beneath the eaves can stay wet for weeks unless equipment pulls the moisture out.
Burnsville Water Damage Restoration · Burnsville, MN