
This Glastonbury, CT home had a significant buildup of ice dams on the roof. Ice dams are formed when warm air escapes through the attic and melts the snow on the roof, causing water to flow down and refreeze at the gutters.

This is a kneewall space with the foil faced insulation installed towards the inside to create a vapor barrier. Asphalt shingles are also a vapor barrier, creating one on both sides of the wall cavity. However, batts are not an air barrier. When air gets around them it hits the bottom of the cold sheathing and is cooled to its dew point, potentially producing water, mold, and rot.

Yes, this is a flex duct in an attic that is full of water! How did it get there? Moisture from the house going up into the cold ducts in the cold attic and condensing into water.

The water eventually ran down the attic and began leaking from the ceiling and exterior walls in the living space

Leaks caused by ice dams led to water damage on the floor in the living area.

Leaks caused noticeable water damage to the drywall on the exterior walls and the nearby ceiling.

The ice dams eventually caused water to overflow and dump next to the foundation, oversaturating the soil and leading to water damage in the basement.