Ice Dam Roof Leaks in Cartersville, GA

Winter is close. If a snowfall lands before a hard freeze, a Cartersville roof can do something it does not do most years: grow a ridge of ice along the eaves and send water back up under the shingles. The first sign is usually a brown stain on a bedroom ceiling, or a drip at the top of an exterior wall.

This page is about the water that comes inside. We pump it out, take the wet insulation and ceiling down where we have to, and dry the structure until the readings are dry.

Ice dam leak services

• Ceiling water extractionWater held in a bulging or stained ceiling is drained in a controlled way and removed.
• Wet attic insulation removalInsulation soaked by melt water is taken out so it stops holding moisture against the ceiling.
• Wall cavity dryingExterior walls that took water behind the drywall are opened and dried.
• Structural drying with readingsAir movers and dehumidifiers run until ceilings, walls and floors match a dry reference.
• Mold check after a roof leakWet insulation and drywall are watched for mold, and removed if it starts.
• Claim documentationPhotos, moisture readings, equipment logs and a list of what was removed.

What an ice dam is and why it leaks

An ice dam forms when heat from the house leaks into the attic and warms the roof. Snow on the roof melts, and the water runs down to the eaves, where the roof is cold and the water freezes again. The ice builds up into a dam. Meltwater that cannot drain over it backs up under the shingles and finds a nail hole or a seam.

The cause is heat in the attic, not the snow itself. Air leaks around recessed lights, attic hatches, plumbing chimneys and ductwork carry warm air upward, and thin insulation lets heat through. That is why one house on a street gets an ice dam and the neighbor does not.

Sources: University of Minnesota Extension, What is an ice dam?; Green Building Advisor, Prevent Ice Dams with Air Sealing and Insulation.

Do ice dams happen around Cartersville?

Less often than in the northern states, but they are not unknown. The National Weather Service office in Peachtree City lists winter storms on January 10 and January 21, 2025 among its recent events, and a snowfall that sits on a roof is the first ingredient. The second ingredient is a freezing night.

Source: NWS Peachtree City, Past Events.

Houses here are not built for snow load or for ice at the eaves. Attics are often vented, insulated with a thin layer and cut through by ducts. The coldest morning we have a reading for is 7 degrees at Cartersville on December 24, 2022, from the weather service's December 2022 table, and a night like that will freeze anything that is wet.

Source: NWS Peachtree City, December 2022 Climate Summary.

First moves when water comes through the ceiling in winter

1. Catch it. Put a bucket under the drip and move furniture, rugs and electronics away.
2. Watch the ceiling. A bulge is trapped water. If it is large, call us before it lets go on its own.
3. Mind the power. If water is near a light fixture or a ceiling fan, shut off that circuit at the panel, only if you can reach it dry.
4. Take photos of the stain, the ceiling and any ice you can see from the ground.
5. Call a roofer and call us. The roofer handles the ice and the roof. We handle the water inside.

Our ice dam leak cleanup process

1. CallTell us where the water is showing and how long it has been coming in.
2. Safety checkWe check power near the ceiling and any bulge that could let go.
3. Drain the ceilingTrapped water is released into containers, not onto your floor.
4. Find what is wetReadings in the ceiling, walls and floor show what is wet. Wet insulation comes out.
5. DryFans and dehumidifiers run, and we come back to check the meters.
6. Final readingsYou get the numbers, the photos and a list of what we removed.

We explain each step before it happens, so nothing on the ceiling comes down without you knowing why.

Wet attic insulation and the ceiling below

Insulation is the sponge. It soaks up melt water and holds it against the drywall, and a ceiling that looks fine after the drip stops can still be wet from above. Wet fiberglass or cellulose in an attic does not dry out well in winter, when attic air is cold and moist. We take out the wet sections, read the ceiling from below and dry what is left before anyone patches or paints.

Water in the wall behind the drywall

Water does not stay where it enters. It runs down the framing at the top of an exterior wall and into the cavity, so a stain near the corner of a ceiling often goes down the wall. A moisture meter finds it. We cut small openings where the readings are high, get air into the cavity and dry it. Painting over a wet wall hides the stain and traps the water.

Mold after a roof leak

Winter is slow for mold, but a wet attic stays wet. The EPA says wet materials should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. If the insulation stayed wet for days before anyone noticed, check the ceiling for dark spots and a musty smell. Our mold removal page covers what to do if it has started.

Source: EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home.

Insurance for roof leaks and ice dams

Policies differ. Many treat sudden water coming in through the roof differently from damage caused by wear or poor upkeep, and some exclude one or the other. Ask your agent before you start repairs, and keep the photos, the moisture readings and any receipts. We give you the readings and a list of what we removed.

Before the next snow

• Seal air leaks around attic hatches, recessed lights and pipe chimneys. Sealing comes before adding insulation.
• Add insulation where the attic floor is thin.
• Check ducts in the attic for gaps. Warm air from a leaky duct heats the roof.
• Clear gutters in the fall so melt water has a path.
• Keep off an icy roof, and do not hack at ice with a hammer or a pick. Call a roofer.

Where we work, and what comes next

We handle ice dam leaks in Cartersville and nearby towns. White sits at about 860 feet, higher than most of the area, and Adairsville has old roofs and old attics. If the leak froze a line too, see frozen and burst pipe cleanup. The water damage cost calculator gives a planning range, not a quote. Call for an on-site assessment.

Ice dam questions

Do ice dams really happen in Georgia?

Not often, and not every winter. They need snow that stays on the roof, a freezing night and a roof that is warm underneath. When a snowfall lands before a hard freeze, they can happen.

Should I chip the ice off my roof?

No. Hammers and picks tear shingles, and a wet roof in winter is a dangerous place to stand. Call a roofer for the ice, and call us for the water inside.

Does insurance cover water from an ice dam?

It depends on the policy. Many treat sudden water coming in through the roof differently from damage caused by wear or poor upkeep. Call your agent and send photos.

Will you fix the roof?

We dry the inside: ceiling, insulation, walls and floors. A roofer repairs shingles, flashing and the roof deck, and we can work alongside one.