Ice Dam Water Damage Repair Chicago IL & Suburbs
Has ice dam water leaked into your home? We’ll get things back to normal!
Ice dams: they’re a fact of life during frigid Chicago winters, but they can cause serious damage to your home.
According to the Insurance Information Institute (IIS), the average insurance claim for water damage and freezing is about $3,000. What’s more, water damage claims are becoming more common. Between 2005 and 2009, IIS reports that water damage and freezing claims increased by 62%!
When ice dams block water runoff, it backs up and moves under your eaves, into your door jambs, and behind your siding. If left unaddressed, ice dams can severely compromise your roof, and even cause total roof collapse. This is a very dangerous situation that needs to be taken care of right away.
In just hours, ice dams create severe water damage that requires professional attention.
Fortunately, our team is here to help with comprehensive ice dam water damage repair services. We serve customers in the Chicago Loop, Lincoln Park, West Loop, and Magnificent Mile areas, in addition to all the suburbs, Let us keep your home warm, safe, and dry – no matter the weather.
Give us a call right now for immediate ice dam water damage help in Chicago, IL and suburbs: 312-707-8597
Our 4-Step Ice Dam Water Damage Cleanup Process
Without the proper attention, even a small ice dam roof leak can create extensive damage to your home. To ensure we address this damage, we follow a proven, multi-step process.
Here’s what you can expect from our team:
1. Comprehensive inspection
Every ice dam leak is different. To make sure we’re offering the service required for your situation, we start by conducting a comprehensive inspection.
Our experienced teams will inspect the damaged area, identify the source and location of the leak, and take steps to contain the moisture and prevent further leaking.
As we inspect the water damage, we’ll create a customized plan to address the situation and deliver a complete repair.
2. Dry the affected area
Any time you’re dealing with water damage, drying the area is of the utmost importance. Even a small leak can lead to mold and mildew growth, which often forms within 24-48 hours of the leak.
To prevent microbial growth, we’ll bring in our professional, heavy-duty extraction equipment to facilitate the drying process.
Depending on the extent of your damage, we’ll focus on vulnerable areas like plaster walls, carpets, rugs, drywall, and hardwood floors.
3. Secondary inspection
Now that we’ve dried the area, we’ll conduct a follow-up evaluation. This evaluation allows us to identify both obvious and hidden damage, and develop a restoration plan for your property.
4. Complete restoration
Finally, we’ll get to work restoring your property. Our team of licensed contractors can complete the water damage restoration work in-house, regardless of the extent of the damage.
The result is a clean, safe, dry home for you and your family.
Don’t let ice dam water damage sit. Call now to prevent further damage: 312-707-8597
Why Choose ServiceMaster of Lake Shore for Ice Dam Water Damage Cleanup in Chicago?
When it comes to ice dam repair, you have a lot of choices. So why choose Service Master of Lake Shore?
Here are a few of the reasons our customers keep coming back:
Experience
ExperienceWe’ve been in business since 1996, and our team has 50+ years of combined restoration experience, so you can trust us with even the toughest jobs.
Rapid response time
Our prime downtown Chicago, IL location allows us to offer a guaranteed response time of under 90 minutes, so you’re never left waiting for our team to arrive.
Locally-owned, backed by a national brand
Our locally-owned and operated company in Chicago, IL cares about you and your family and is backed by a National operation with extensive restoration resources. We have commercial vans and trucks equipped with the latest restoration equipment to get your home and business to like-new condition after an ice dam leak.
A customer-first approach
When you call, we answer the phone the first time. Your satisfaction is our top priority. When you work with us, we assign a dedicated project manager who will be with you every step of the way.
Request an inspection today and let us repair your damages: 312-707-8597
What Causes Ice Dams in Chicago Homes & Businesses?
Ice dams form when the heat in your home rises into your attic and through your ceiling (this is common in older homes with insufficient attic insulation) to warm the roof surface.
Snow on the heated area of the roof melts into water, which flows down the roof until it meets the roof’s eave.
Since the eave sits away from the home, though, this part of the roof is usually below freezing.
The sudden change in temperature causes moisture to freeze, forming an ice dam.
As the cycle continues, water builds up behind the ice dam and becomes trapped. With nowhere else to go, moisture forces its way under the shingles of your roof and down into the wall cavity, damaging your home’s building materials and interior structure.
What Damage do Ice Dams Cause to Chicago Homes?
Ice dams block water runoff. When this happens, the water backs up and moves under the home’s eaves, draining down into your door jambs and behind your siding.
Here are just a few of the ways ice dams can damage your home:
- Broken, loose, or displaced gutters.
- Loosened shingles.
- Soaked insulation, ceilings, walls, and paint.
- Mold and mildew formation.
If left unaddressed, ice dams can also severely compromise your roof, and even cause total roof collapse. As such, ice dams are very dangerous and require immediate attention.
3 Important Ice Dam Prevention Tips
Just because you live in chilly Chicago doesn’t mean you have to live with ice dams all winter long. Follow these prevention tips to keep your home dry this winter:
1. Insulate your attic
One of the best things you can do to prevent ice dams in the long-term is address the problem at its source: the attic. The average home loses about one-third of its heat through the attic.
Much of that heat loss comes from air leaks caused by cracks in drywall, gaps around light fixtures, pipes, and chimneys, and poorly secured access hatches.
Purchase some caulk or foam sealant made specially for attics. Fill all the holes you can find, and make sure any access hatches are sealed tightly. If you have the budget for it, consider adding insulation to your attic. Not only will this help prevent heat loss and keep your winter heating bills reasonable, but it’ll get rid of ice damming for good.
2. Add vents
Properly ventilated attics draw in cool outdoor air and flush out warm air, cooling the attic and roof naturally. While installing attic vents is certainly a project that requires the help of a roofing expert, it can go a long way to prevent ice dams and keep your roof and drywall moisture-free this winter.
3. Use heated cables
If you own or rent an older home with inadequate attic insulation, there is a convenient work-around: heated cables. Available at most hardware stores, heated cables use clips to attach to your roof’s edge in a zigzag pattern.
These cables emit gentle heat – just enough to prevent water from freezing and creating an ice dam. For best results, install these cables before the snow flies, as they’re not effective for resolving ice dams that have already formed.
When Ice Dam Water Leaks into Your Chicago Home, Turn To ServiceMaster of Lake Shore!
Don’t navigate this situation on your own – our experienced team takes care of water damage caused by ice dams. We have the experience and know-how to restore your home to like-new condition. Our friendly team is standing by to help.
