Ice dams keep forming on my Dieppe home and water is leaking into the attic — is this an insulation or ventilation problem?

Ice dams are typically caused by inadequate attic insulation combined with poor ventilation, creating a cycle where warm air escapes through your ceiling, melts snow on the roof, and refreezes at the cold eaves. Given Dieppe's heavy snowfall and frequent freeze-thaw cycles, this is unfortunately a common problem in our area.

The root cause is heat loss from your living space warming the roof deck above the heated area while the eaves remain cold. Snow melts, runs down, and refreezes where there's no heat underneath — creating the dam. When more meltwater backs up behind this ice barrier, it finds its way under shingles and into your attic.

Check your attic insulation first — most Dieppe homes built in the 1980s-1990s have settling fiberglass that's now providing only R-20 to R-30, well below the current NBC recommendation of R-50 for our climate zone. You'll also want to seal air leaks around pot lights, bathroom fans, and the attic hatch where warm air escapes. Look for dark staining on insulation that indicates air movement.

Ventilation is equally critical — you need balanced intake (soffit vents) and exhaust (ridge or roof vents). Many homes in your area have blocked soffit vents from over-insulation or inadequate ridge venting. The rule is 1 square foot of ventilation per 150 square feet of attic space, split equally between intake and exhaust.

For immediate damage control, safely remove snow from the lower 3-4 feet of your roof using a roof rake, but never climb up there yourself in winter conditions. If water is actively leaking, place tarps or buckets in the attic and contact your insurance company — ice dam damage is typically covered under most policies.

Professional assessment is recommended for this issue since it involves both insulation upgrades and proper air sealing techniques. A qualified contractor can perform a thermal scan to identify heat loss patterns and ensure proper vapor barrier installation. The City of Dieppe requires building permits for major insulation upgrades that involve electrical work or structural modifications.

Consider this an investment in both comfort and energy savings — proper insulation and ventilation will eliminate ice dams while reducing your heating costs significantly. NB Power offers rebates through their Total Home Energy Savings Program for qualifying insulation upgrades, which can offset some of the project cost.