Today it rained.. INDOORS!

Xringer · 02-05-11, 04:36 PM

Yeah, all the ice dams are starting to push water inside the house..

It's so great living in snow country!!

I hope it gets cold again.. Soon!

NeilBlanchard · 02-05-11, 07:54 PM

Next roof installation gets bituminous membrane at least 6' up the roof slope! Stuff works great.

Xringer · 02-05-11, 11:31 PM

We got some good stuff (I think it was) and 6 feet up... But it seems there may have been a little lack of pride in workmanship...

I may have damaged it a bit, as I was up there whacking away and some
8" to 10" thick ice packs on the gutters.

I think maybe I hit one of the melt-wires too. The ground fault popped.
And the button won't stay in..

Plus, the ladder sipped and broke a security lamp mount and the molding around one of the windows.. Cost is adding up..

NeilBlanchard · 02-06-11, 05:43 AM

Yikes -- it is supposed to seal nails that pass through it, etc.

We have 18" overhangs, and last night there was water dripping in between the storm window and the doublehung window in out bedroom... The temperature this morning is a balmy 38F, and the dripping has stopped, and the plaster feels dry at least. I hope that the water is not inside my walls, soaking the insulation...

We have two layers of shingles on the roof -- I want to reframe it completely so I can get more headroom in the attic and a walkup stair, and have more insulation and more south facing roof, too, for solar panels.

Xringer · 02-06-11, 07:05 AM

Good Morning Neil, Our drips have slowed down. Don't know why, since it didn't get down to 32F last night..?.
Maybe the wood is swelling up, slowing the flow.

Our main problem areas are the corners, where the ice builds up on the ends of the gutter runs.
But the biggest ice dam areas, are the valleys where the new N-S roof joins into the(main) E-W roof.
It seems like the heat wire loops (before I destroyed them) worked on the west side,
(where we've had water before) but the west side has always been dry (until last nite),
leaked in a few gallons.
So, when I get the new (power sucking) heat wires, I need to pick up some for the East side too.

I'm also looking to replace my small (toy-like) show thrower with something larger.
Lowes & HD seemed to be out-of-stock.. Have to keep using the old one for a while..

I can not believe it's been exactly 33 years since The Blizzard of 78..
That's when I decided to buy this show thrower.. It seemed large at the time..
I guess it needs a second oil change by now..

NeilBlanchard · 02-06-11, 02:59 PM

The water may have drained out from behind the ice dam? The warm air temperature plus a little heat from inside the house probably was a good thing? The icicles have mostly fallen off my house, and the ice dams are still there, but the water has stopped coming in.

What snow blower do you have? I called all around the other day -- and NO ONE has any snow blowers at all.

I want to get a Toro plugin snowblower -- no maintenance required, and quite powerful. I've borrowed my neighbor's a couple of times now. They are available online at Amazon for $300.

Xringer · 02-06-11, 04:56 PM

Things are better now. The water has stopped and I've made some repairs (to stuff I broke)
and we are ready for the next 2 feet of snow..

My daughter has a new Toro Power Shovel (Amazon) and seems to like it.
It's just a bit heavy for her.

Our old one is a Snow Chief. I think it's about 5 HP..
I would like to get something the same size and but with a larger engine.
But that may not be possible. So, something about 30" wide with 8HP
sounds pretty good to me these days..

I do like the new Joy Stick thrower controller.. Meaning I won't have to stop
to crank a handle (clogged with ice) to made sure the stream of ice and snow
isn't going to break out any windows etc..

NeilBlanchard · 02-06-11, 09:16 PM

The Toro Power Curve 1800 is not big, but it is effective. And best of all, it can run hard for an hour and use the equivalent of just 3/8 cup of gasoline. It is quiet, starts every time, you can use it on wood decks, and on grass.

I cleared a 90' x 9' driveway including the plow pile in the foot of snow and a 30' long walk in 30 minutes.

Ryland · 02-07-11, 12:07 AM

After doing air sealing in our attic and putting in an R60 of cellulose insulation we have not had a single ice dam but I would say that 70% of the houses I see around here do have them and in past years we too have had ice dams but I just stepped out side and looked at our roof to make sure and it has a nice layer of snow and no signs of ice at all!
I've thought about getting some of the heat wire to melt ice in my gutters and down spouts, mostly because my down spouts go in to drain tile and on warm days the roof run off hits the drain tile and freezes them up, they work great in the summer for heavy rain but not so much in the spring, anyone have brands to stay away from?

Xringer · 02-07-11, 08:43 AM

I'm using a 100' Frost King roof de-icing cable and it works pretty well.
I had two, but when we had the roof replaced, we tossed the old one
and installed the back-up.

Yesterday, I 'repaired' the cut. The cable is similar to coax cable, but with
a copper braid over to small insulated wire heating conductors.
The wires are very thin, but their insulation is tough & very flexible.

Tested it on my inaccurate Kill-a-Watt and see 386 watts now..
So, twisting the wires together worked! I don't think the wires would solder,
if they are made from nichrome..

02-05-11, 04:36 PM	#1
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Today it rained.. INDOORS! Yeah, all the ice dams are starting to push water inside the house.. It's so great living in snow country!! I hope it gets cold again.. Soon!

02-05-11, 11:31 PM	#3
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Just had it done last year. We got some good stuff (I think it was) and 6 feet up... But it seems there may have been a little lack of pride in workmanship... I may have damaged it a bit, as I was up there whacking away and some 8" to 10" thick ice packs on the gutters. I think maybe I hit one of the melt-wires too. The ground fault popped. And the button won't stay in.. Plus, the ladder sipped and broke a security lamp mount and the molding around one of the windows.. Cost is adding up..

02-07-11, 12:07 AM	#9
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	After doing air sealing in our attic and putting in an R60 of cellulose insulation we have not had a single ice dam but I would say that 70% of the houses I see around here do have them and in past years we too have had ice dams but I just stepped out side and looked at our roof to make sure and it has a nice layer of snow and no signs of ice at all! I've thought about getting some of the heat wire to melt ice in my gutters and down spouts, mostly because my down spouts go in to drain tile and on warm days the roof run off hits the drain tile and freezes them up, they work great in the summer for heavy rain but not so much in the spring, anyone have brands to stay away from? Last edited by Ryland; 02-07-11 at 09:43 AM..

02-05-11, 07:54 PM	#2
NeilBlanchard Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Maynard, MA Eaarth Posts: 383 Thanks: 78 Thanked 39 Times in 32 Posts	Next roof installation gets bituminous membrane at least 6' up the roof slope! Stuff works great.

02-06-11, 05:43 AM	#4
NeilBlanchard Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Maynard, MA Eaarth Posts: 383 Thanks: 78 Thanked 39 Times in 32 Posts	Yikes -- it is supposed to seal nails that pass through it, etc. We have 18" overhangs, and last night there was water dripping in between the storm window and the doublehung window in out bedroom... The temperature this morning is a balmy 38F, and the dripping has stopped, and the plaster feels dry at least. I hope that the water is not inside my walls, soaking the insulation... We have two layers of shingles on the roof -- I want to reframe it completely so I can get more headroom in the attic and a walkup stair, and have more insulation and more south facing roof, too, for solar panels.

02-06-11, 07:05 AM	#5
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Good Morning Neil, Our drips have slowed down. Don't know why, since it didn't get down to 32F last night..?. Maybe the wood is swelling up, slowing the flow. Our main problem areas are the corners, where the ice builds up on the ends of the gutter runs. But the biggest ice dam areas, are the valleys where the new N-S roof joins into the(main) E-W roof. It seems like the heat wire loops (before I destroyed them) worked on the west side, (where we've had water before) but the west side has always been dry (until last nite), leaked in a few gallons. So, when I get the new (power sucking) heat wires, I need to pick up some for the East side too. I'm also looking to replace my small (toy-like) show thrower with something larger. Lowes & HD seemed to be out-of-stock.. Have to keep using the old one for a while.. I can not believe it's been exactly 33 years since The Blizzard of 78.. That's when I decided to buy this show thrower.. It seemed large at the time.. I guess it needs a second oil change by now..

02-06-11, 02:59 PM	#6
NeilBlanchard Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Maynard, MA Eaarth Posts: 383 Thanks: 78 Thanked 39 Times in 32 Posts	The water may have drained out from behind the ice dam? The warm air temperature plus a little heat from inside the house probably was a good thing? The icicles have mostly fallen off my house, and the ice dams are still there, but the water has stopped coming in. What snow blower do you have? I called all around the other day -- and NO ONE has any snow blowers at all. I want to get a Toro plugin snowblower -- no maintenance required, and quite powerful. I've borrowed my neighbor's a couple of times now. They are available online at Amazon for $300.

02-06-11, 04:56 PM	#7
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Things are better now. The water has stopped and I've made some repairs (to stuff I broke) and we are ready for the next 2 feet of snow.. My daughter has a new Toro Power Shovel (Amazon) and seems to like it. It's just a bit heavy for her. Our old one is a Snow Chief. I think it's about 5 HP.. I would like to get something the same size and but with a larger engine. But that may not be possible. So, something about 30" wide with 8HP sounds pretty good to me these days.. I do like the new Joy Stick thrower controller.. Meaning I won't have to stop to crank a handle (clogged with ice) to made sure the stream of ice and snow isn't going to break out any windows etc..

02-06-11, 09:16 PM	#8
NeilBlanchard Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Maynard, MA Eaarth Posts: 383 Thanks: 78 Thanked 39 Times in 32 Posts	The Toro Power Curve 1800 is not big, but it is effective. And best of all, it can run hard for an hour and use the equivalent of just 3/8 cup of gasoline. It is quiet, starts every time, you can use it on wood decks, and on grass. I cleared a 90' x 9' driveway including the plow pile in the foot of snow and a 30' long walk in 30 minutes.

02-07-11, 08:43 AM	#10
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	I'm using a 100' Frost King roof de-icing cable and it works pretty well. I had two, but when we had the roof replaced, we tossed the old one and installed the back-up. Yesterday, I 'repaired' the cut. The cable is similar to coax cable, but with a copper braid over to small insulated wire heating conductors. The wires are very thin, but their insulation is tough & very flexible. Tested it on my inaccurate Kill-a-Watt and see 386 watts now.. So, twisting the wires together worked! I don't think the wires would solder, if they are made from nichrome..