I like the umbrella explanation better because people know what I am talking about.
Need to cut that down some, but I understand what you are saying.
Just need to bring it down to newspaper reading level,which is about 8th grade ,so the client understands it.(ha ha and me).
As far as you know…
“The causes of ice dams are many and complex. The likelihood that one will form is both unpredictable and highly weather-dependent”
Numerous problems can be caused by ice dams.
One is pictured below
Mr Macy you inspected our house last summer and you never mentioned anything about ice dams:shock:
Below is the text in my software
Last year, a pastor about 20 minutes south of me, was clearing icecles from his roof, and had one puncture his leg. He bled out before anyone could help him. I have personally removed 1 icicle that I couldn’t put my arms around that went 1 1/2 stories all the way to the ground: directly above a gas meter. Yes I was crazy.
Good timing for this thread.
I had to literally cover my my head from all the ice chunks falling and sliding off around Chicagoland this morning.
Incredibly much of it from trees which do not have attics.
Made me go Hmmmmm.
Lots of trees here have attics, only we call them tree (deer) stands. Your point is well taken though.
Just what I said. 
I don’t comment on icicles. It’s well beyond the scope of a home inspection.
Exactly!!! I’ve seen many times in January/February where with (1)still, windless days, (2) bright sun, (3) temps hovering around or slightly below freezing, (4) a dark roof partly snow covered, (5) lots of insulation and (6) lots of roof ventilation, icicles and dams still form!
The dark roof is a solar collector and eventually warms the attic air which then warms the sheathing under the snow covered sections which leads to melting snow and…freezing at the snow covered lower eaves.
As one building scientist said: “You can draw lots of roof/venting diagrams with arrows indicating air flows but you can’t make the air go there just because there are arrows pointing some way!”
Ben,
Feel free to jump in and finish what you started. Any particular reason for this thread? Collecting info for another article/video?
Jeff
There’s ice on the roof and you should consider moving to a warmer climate. . .
Now Jeff lets be nice!!
I love shoveling/snow blowing my drive 4X a day
I love not seeing the sun for weeks
I love inspecting in the snow!!
It is almost March, spring is getting close.
I look forward to wearing a t shirt, shorts and tennis shoes.
I get chilly just looking at that stuff!
You are weak.
Not of good study stock ,and just need more pizza fat.
I’ll take 120 degrees over ice any day. . .
You get used to it .
I used to work outside all day every day and would feel hot going inside.
Chicago has the best summers because we celebrate like crazy once Spring hits.
*[Attachment 35152](http://www.nachi.org/forum/attachments/f16/35152-whats-your-narrative-one-ice-dam-ben-gromicko-.jpg) [Attachment 35153](http://www.nachi.org/forum/attachments/f16/35153-whats-your-narrative-one-ice-dam-ben-gromicko-b.jpg) [Attachment 35154](http://www.nachi.org/forum/attachments/f16/35154-whats-your-narrative-one-ice-dam-ben-gromicko-c.jpg) [Attachment 35155](http://www.nachi.org/forum/attachments/f16/35155-whats-your-narrative-one-ice-dam-ben-gromicko-d.jpg)*
To all:
Total disregard of an obvious problem helps in neither limiting liability nor providing an excellent inspection service.
Several hundred pounds of ice hanging from a gutter 24 feet above the ground is not only an indication a problem with the building envelope, but it’s also poses an unreasonable risk to people on the property.
In my humble opinion, that condition should be reported. Not only should the safety hazard be reported to the potential client, but also everyone present at the property and the property owner. If that gutter gives, or the ice cracks and falls, someone might get seriously injured.
My advice to everyone: Don’t hide behind the SOP. It won’t help.
[quote=“dmacy, post:33, topic:47104”]
**I love shoveling/snow blowing my drive 4X a day. **
**I love not seeing the sun for weeks. **
**I love inspecting in the snow!!/**quote]
You, sir, are a very strange person.
Very strange indeed!!!
My wife loves the snow (as she works from home with her computer in a large comfortable office).
I, on the other hand, became quite disillusioned about the second day of repeatedly removing the snow, even with a blow-snower.
I too love shoveling snow. I find it relaxing and you have alone time with your thoughts. Plus it’s great exercise.
I agree there are many causes to the ice damming and that is the fun of being an inspector to determine what the actual cause is. I agree with Ben no matter the cause warn the client, those icicles can be dangerous.
