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With the latest round of winter weather having passed, many homes may develop a common problem known as ice dams. Chem-Dry Express can help with the subsequent damage that may occur within the home through rapid drying or removal of wet materials including drywall, wood trim and insulation.

Ice dams form when uneven temperatures on the roof cause uneven melting of snow and ice. There are three ways that heat is transferred to the roof, possibly resulting in ice dams:

1. Conduction - When heat travels through a solid. If you've ever used a cast iron frying pan, conduction is what moves the heat from the bottom of the pan to the handle.
2. Convection - Caused by the heating of the air around a surface that then rises due to the fact that it is lighter. If you've ever seen a hot air balloon lift off with the massive burner firing, convection energy helps to fill the balloon with heated air which then rises carrying the basket and passengers with it.
3. Radiation - The electomagnetic energy that you feel when standing out in the sun on a hot summer day. Radiation energy also occurs from any heated surface into its surrounding environment. In the iron frying pan example, convection and radiant energy can be felt when holding your hand over the cooking surface.