Glossary

Ice dam

A ridge of ice at a roof's edge that traps melting snow and forces water under the shingles and into the house, a common winter source of ceiling damage.

Also called: ice damming, ice dam damage

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that builds along the eave of a roof. It forms when heat escaping from the house warms the upper roof, snow melts and runs down, and the water refreezes at the colder edge. Later meltwater then pools behind the ice, backs up under the shingles and leaks into the attic, ceilings and walls.

For insurance, the usual question is whether the interior water damage is covered. On open-perils dwelling coverage such as the ISO HO-3, damage from an ice dam is commonly paid as a weather loss unless an exclusion applies. Insurers sometimes argue that poor insulation, ventilation or roof condition caused the problem, which is a maintenance matter, though water damage that results may still be covered. The ice and any age-related roof repairs are generally your cost. Whether the policy reimburses removal of the dam as a protective measure under reasonable repairs varies by insurer.

Say an ice dam sends water through a bedroom ceiling and drywall, insulation and paint cost $5,500 to fix (hypothetical). The insurer pays that less your deductible.

Prevention is cheaper: seal attic air leaks, add insulation, keep vents clear and rake heavy snow from the eaves. The guide ice dams and roof damage covers claims, and winter storms, freezes and power outages covers related winter losses.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026

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Related terms

Peril A specific cause of loss, such as fire, wind, theft or water, that a policy covers or excludes; it is the cause of the damage rather than the damage itself. Wear and tear The slow breakdown of materials from age, weather and ordinary use, which homeowners policies exclude because insurance pays for sudden loss, not upkeep. Reasonable repairs Coverage for the cost of temporary steps you take to stop covered damage from getting worse, such as tarping a roof or boarding up a broken window. Sudden and accidental Wording insurers use to separate covered, abrupt losses such as a burst pipe from slow, foreseeable damage like a leak that has dripped for months. Deductible The amount of a covered property loss you pay yourself before the insurer pays the rest, shown on your declarations page as a dollar figure or a percentage. Exclusion A policy provision that removes coverage for a stated cause, type of loss, property or circumstance that the coverage would otherwise reach.

Related guides

Ice dams and roof damage Ice dam leaks are usually covered for the house; contents, dam removal and blame for poor insulation stall claims. What the HO-3 says and how to prevent one. Winter storms, freezes and power outages What a homeowners policy pays after ice, snow and hard freezes, why burst pipes turn on reasonable care, and why a power outage by itself is not a covered loss.

Related insurers

Safety Insurance Boston insurer, founded 1979, selling home and auto coverage through independent agents in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine; MAPFRE is buying it.

Related states

Maine Maine home insurance: a fragmented market led by State Farm, below-average premiums, strong nonrenewal protections, hurricane deductible rules and no FAIR plan. New Hampshire New Hampshire home insurance: Liberty Mutual leads a crowded, low-cost market; insurers can't refuse a home on location alone, and there is no FAIR plan.

Related disasters

Winter Storm Fern (2026) January 2026 ice, snow and record cold: about $3.5 billion insured (Aon), FEMA major disasters in five states, and suit deadlines still running.