That’s the thing—everyone thinks it’s the obvious big gaps, but it’s those sneaky little holes that really let the cold in. I once found a draft coming right through a tiny staple hole, no joke. I’ve crawled more attics than I care to admit and it’s always something random—like a wire poking through insulation, or a vent that’s not quite sealed. Patch those, and suddenly the ice dams aren’t nearly as bad. Still, I swear the house tries to invent new leaks every winter... it’s like some kind of weird game.
I get what you’re saying about the little gaps, but honestly, I’m not sure that’s always the main culprit. I mean, yeah, I found a draft coming through a cable hole last year and it was wild how much cold air got in, but for me the bigger issue was actually my attic insulation just being super patchy in general. Like, there were whole sections where it was way thinner than it should’ve been—guess whoever did it before just kind of gave up halfway through? Once I beefed that up, the ice dams dropped off way more than when I was chasing every tiny crack.
Not saying the small stuff doesn’t matter (I still go after those when I spot ‘em), but sometimes it feels like the bigger picture gets missed. Maybe it’s different depending on the house or climate? Mine’s an old place with a low-pitch roof and we get hammered with snow here, so maybe that’s part of it. Either way, I feel like every winter is a new adventure in “what did I miss this time…”
I’ve seen way too many folks obsess over every tiny air leak and totally miss the big insulation gaps, just like you said. In my experience, patchy attic insulation is usually the main villain, especially in older homes with weird roof lines or low pitches. I once inspected a place where the homeowner had sealed every crack but still had monster ice dams—turned out half the attic was basically bare. After fixing that, problem mostly solved. Still, I’d say both matter, but if you’ve got to pick your battles, start with the obvious weak spots.
I’ve seen way too many folks obsess over every tiny air leak and totally miss the big insulation gaps, just like you said.
That’s honestly been my experience too. I manage a bunch of older duplexes, and every winter it’s the same story—tenants crank the heat, then call about icicles hanging off the gutters. First time it happened, I spent hours crawling around with a can of spray foam, sealing up every little gap I could find. Didn’t make much difference. Next year, finally got up in the attic and realized there were spots where you could literally see the drywall through what was left of the old insulation. No wonder we had ice dams.
I get why people focus on air leaks—it feels like something you can actually fix yourself without tearing stuff apart. But if your insulation is patchy or missing in spots, you’re basically heating your roof instead of your house. In my case, after topping up the attic with blown-in cellulose (not cheap, but worth it), ice dam issues dropped off a cliff.
One thing I’d add: sometimes it’s not just about how much insulation you have, but how evenly it’s spread out. I’ve seen places where someone dumped a bunch in one corner and left other areas bare. Doesn’t help much if heat’s still escaping from those weak spots.
I will say though, air leaks aren’t totally nothing—especially around attic hatches or plumbing vents. But yeah, if you’re picking your battles, start with the big gaps first. The little stuff can wait until you’re not freezing your butt off in January.
Funny enough, one of my tenants swears by using roof rakes after every snowstorm to keep things clear near the eaves. Not a bad idea for short-term help, but definitely not a substitute for fixing what’s going on underneath.
Curious if anyone’s tried those heated cables? I’ve always wondered if they’re worth it or just masking a bigger problem...
Heated cables are kind of a mixed bag in my experience. I put some up a few years back on the north side where ice dams were relentless. They did help, but honestly, it felt like slapping a band-aid on a bigger wound. If you’ve got poor insulation or ventilation, the cables just mask the symptoms. Still, they’re better than nothing if you can’t fix the root cause right away. Just watch your electric bill—mine definitely noticed.