Every year winter reminds us that it is as beautiful as it is challenging. The lower temperatures, the chilling winds, the ice, and snow that descend on us and make us question why we live in the Midwest. Just as we dress ourselves appropriately to survive the freezing temperatures outside by bundling up with our winter coat, hat and gloves, our home needs the same kind of protection to keep the cold out. If you are not being an observant homeowner and paying attention to some obvious signs, you could be wasting your money on increased utility bills and damaging your home.
So, what is the best way to know if your home is prepared for the cold winter weather? How can you tell your home properly protected and insulated, including your attic area? Are your shingles or siding broken, chipped, or missing? Are there other issues causing heat to escape through your roof? And what will happen if I ignore these issues? Let’s break it down.
How can you tell your home properly protected and insulated, including your attic area?
In the morning, after a cold, frosty night, bundle yourself up and go outside to observe your roof. Do you notice that your shingles are covered with a solid layer of white frost? That is a good thing. This means that your roof is cold, and the frost is maintained. If there are patches of the roof where the frost is missing or melted, this means you have heat escaping through the roof and will need to do some further inspection to find out why this could be occurring. When you find your roof is missing areas of frost, this is referred to as “frost ghosting”. This is, essentially, a tell-tale sign that your insulation is failing in some way and allowing your heat to escape through the roof. To take a deep dive into how this occurs, learn more frost ghosting here.
Are your shingles or siding broken, chipped, or missing?
We live in a climate that can be harsh year-round. If you experienced some weather in the spring, summer, or fall, like intense temperatures, strong winds, heavy rain, hail or even a tornado, you may have some damaged or missing shingles, flashing, or siding that needs to be repaired or replaced. But realistically, we’re all not climbing up on our roofs after every storm to make sure we have no damage. Therefore, it is important to have a trusted local professional roofer that can do annual inspections and make sure your roof is in tip-top shape. If you notice any damage in these areas, this could also be the cause of your precious escaping heat. If you are need of professional assistance, please contact us today for a free estimate.
What can happen if I have frost ghosting?
Having missing frost or escaping heat on your roof, is not in itself a huge cause for concern, however these are symptoms of a larger worry. When things melt, they re-freeze and this can lead to ice dams. If you are noticing ice icicles on your home, this could be an ice dam byproduct. Learn all the details about how ice dams form in this article by the University of Minnesota. Ice dams lead to all sorts of nasty problems including, damaged drywall, leaks, wood rot and mold. The good news is these things are all avoidable and easily addressed.
So, bundle up, get out there and look at your roof. If something is missing, like frost, you should consider getting a professional opinion. Dynasty Roofing and Restoration offers free inspections and estimates to help you protect your home and the health of your family.
