Ice Dam Water Damage in Burnsville, MN
An ice dam pushes meltwater under the shingles and into the top of the wall, where it hides for days. The drying team traces it with thermal imaging, opens only what is wet and dries the cavities.
(888) 432-4933Ice dam leaking inside? Call
Ice dam water starts clean, but it runs where nobody can see it: down the inside of an exterior wall, across the top of the ceiling drywall and into the insulation. By the time a stain shows, the wet area is usually bigger than the stain.
First steps for ice dam water damage in Burnsville
Rake the roof edge
Pull the first few feet of snow off from the ground with a roof rake, never from a ladder.
Catch the drips
Set buckets and move furniture away from the wet ceiling and wall.
Stay out from under bulges
A ceiling holding water can drop; keep people away from it.
Photograph inside and out
Capture the icicles, the dam and every interior stain.
How ice dam water damage is handled in Burnsville
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 from inside
Thermal imaging and meters map wet ceilings and walls under the eaves.
- 2
Open where needed
Small openings let wet insulation out and drying air in.
- 3
Dry the cavities
Air movers, LGR dehumidifiers and wall cavity drying run together.
- 4
Verify dry
Readings logged daily until drywall and framing reach the goal.
Why Burnsville roofs build ice dams
Heavy snow on the roof plus heat escaping into the attic is the recipe. The upper roof stays warm enough to melt snow, while the eaves hang out over the cold air. The meltwater refreezes at the edge, the ridge of ice grows, and water pools behind it and backs up under the shingles.
- Story-and-a-half homes and split-levels with short attic spaces over living areas.
- Bath fans and recessed lights that leak warm air into the attic.
- Gutters packed with ice that hold water at the roof edge.
- Freeze and thaw cycles in February and March that keep the dam growing.
How ice dam water is found and dried
The tech who does the walkthrough scans the ceiling and the outside walls under the eaves with thermal imaging, then confirms with pinless and pin meters. Wet insulation that cannot dry is pulled from the attic side or through a small ceiling opening. The drying team sets air movers and LGR dehumidifiers and injects air into wall cavities, logging readings daily. If the ceiling is sagging, see ceiling leak water damage for how it is opened safely.
- Drywall that held water for days is checked for softening before drying.
- Window and door headers under the eaves are common wet spots.
- Roof repair and dam removal belong to a roofer; drying starts inside right away.
Ice dam claims and prevention
Many policies treat interior damage from an ice dam as sudden, while the roof repair itself may be handled differently. Photos of the dam, the icicles and the stains, plus the moisture map, support the file. Coverage depends on your policy, so it is worth checking with your own insurer. The Energy Saver site covers attic air sealing, and Ready.gov covers winter storm safety.
Ice dam water damage across Burnsville and northern Dakota County
The Burnsville restoration crew covers ZIP 55306 and 55337, from the Heart of the City and the Burnsville Center area out to Crystal Lake, Lac Lavon, Buck Hill and the river bluffs along Cliff Road.
Nearby coverage reaches Apple Valley, Savage, Bloomington, Eagan, Lakeville, Prior Lake, Rosemount.
Related water damage services in Burnsville
Ice Dam Water Damage questions in Burnsville, MN
01Is an ice dam leak a roof problem or an attic problem?
Both. The leak happens at the roof edge, but heat escaping into the attic is what melts the snow. Air sealing and ventilation fix the cause.
02Why does the stain keep growing after the thaw?
Water trapped in insulation and wall cavities keeps spreading and wicking after the dam melts. Meters show how far it went.
03Should I chip the ice off myself?
Chipping damages shingles and is dangerous on a ladder. A roof rake from the ground is safer; leave dam removal to a roofer.
04Does the wet insulation have to come out?
Insulation that stays soaked cannot dry in place and holds water against the framing, so it is usually removed and replaced.
05Is ice dam damage covered by insurance?
Interior damage from an ice dam is often covered as sudden water. Check your own policy and keep photos and drying logs.
06When do ice dams show up in Burnsville?
Most often from January to March, after heavy snow followed by sunny days or a thaw that melts the upper roof.
Ice dam leaking into your Burnsville home? Get it dried.
Wet insulation and drywall under the eaves stay wet for weeks without drying equipment.
Burnsville Water Damage Restoration · Burnsville, MN