Ice Dams 101
Ice Dams Cost Billions of Dollars in Winter Damage
Winter storms caused approximately $3.3 billion in U.S. insured losses in 2023 and approximately $3.9 billion in 2024. These national figures include losses from snow, ice, freezing, and other winter-storm conditions.
The potential cost of ice dams specifically is demonstrated by Massachusetts. During the severe winter of 2014–2015, Massachusetts policyholders filed more than 125,000 ice-dam claims, resulting in approximately $1.27 billion in insurance payments in a single state.
Ice dams can damage roofing, insulation, ceilings, walls, and other parts of a home, while also contributing to mold, structural deterioration, and costly repairs.
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Ice dams can cause a wide range of costly damage, including:
- Roof damage — shingles, roofing materials and roof decking$5,000 – $15,000+
- Water intrusion beneath the roofing system$2,000 – $10,000+
- Attic insulation damage$1,500 – $4,000
- Ceiling and drywall damage$500 – $3,000
- Wall and paint damage$300 – $2,500
- Fascia, soffit and eave damage$500 – $3,000
- Wood rot and structural deterioration$1,000 – $10,000+
- Mold and mold-remediation costs$1,500 – $6,000+
- Gutter damage and replacement$500 – $2,500
- Flooring, windows, trim and other interior damage$500 – $5,000+
- Electrical-area damage$500 – $3,000+
- Personal-property damageVaries widely
- Dangerous icicles and falling ice$200 – $1,000+
- Slip-and-fall hazards and potential liabilityVaries widely
- Ice-dam and snow-removal expenses$500 – $3,000 per event
- Repair and restoration costs after the water intrusion$2,000 – $20,000+
Protect. Remove. Relax.™
Source note: U.S. winter-storm loss figures are based on Insurance Information Institute/Aon data. Massachusetts ice-dam claim figures are from the Massachusetts Division of Insurance. Estimated repair costs are general ranges for informational purposes only and will vary based on location, severity, and contractor pricing.