Ice dams and icicles
Thick ice ridges at the roof edge, big icicles, maybe water staining on ceilings after cold snaps.
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What it usually means
- Warm indoor air leaking into the attic (bypasses around chimneys, pot lights, hatches) melts roof snow, which refreezes at the cold eaves
- Thin attic insulation letting heat conduct through
- Blocked soffit ventilation trapping the heat
What an audit measures
- Thermal imaging of the ceiling plane finds the exact bypasses feeding the melt
- Attic inspection checks insulation depth and ventilation paths
Try first (cheap or free)
- Roof-rake the lower courses after big snowfalls (from the ground — stay off ladders)
- Don't rely on heat cables — they treat the symptom, not the leak
The fix ladder
- Seal attic bypasses
- Top up attic to R-60 + clear soffit baffles
Rebates that apply
- HRSP (with assessment) Ontario — Up to $10,000 per home ($5,000 if heated with Enbridge gas), including $600 back on your two assessments, for insulation, windows, air sealing and more — if the follow-up assessment is done by December 31, 2026
Outside Ontario? See the rebates in your province or territory →
Want it diagnosed properly?
A registered energy advisor measures instead of guessing — blower door, thermal imaging, and a written upgrade report priced against rebates.