As autumn marches on, its trademark crisp mornings take longer and longer to warm up, eventually becoming winter's frigid days. Just as you will start keeping a pair gloves in your car and lacing up heavier boots, your home will need protecting from the cold, too. Bearing the brunt of this load is the roof, which, like your hat, provides insulation from both winter's extreme temperatures and its wet, heavy precipitation. When preparing your roof to do battle with the elements this year, take special care to prevent these three common issues.

1. Condensation

When a cold surface meets warm air, moisture builds on the warm side of the surface. On a cold beverage, this moisture gathers into rather innocuous drops of water on the outside of the glass. But when the cold outside air meets your warm roof, condensation appears inside your roof. The resulting damp environment is the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew, which can damage the interior structure of your home. To prevent condensation, ensure your attic is properly ventilated and insulated.

2. Ice dams

Ice dams occur when melting snow from the warmer, upper sections of a roof flows down and re-freezes on the lower sections of the roof and gutters, which are colder. As water backs up and pools behind the dam, it may leak into your home through cracks and joints on the home's exterior, causing damage. While there is no way to completely eliminate the risk of ice dams, making sure your roof is well insulated and your attic ventilated will help to even out the temperature on your roof.

3. Icicles

While icicles can be festive, many homeowners know firsthand the potential for damage hiding behind their glimmering exterior. Sharp, falling icicles pose a serious risk to people and pets, and the weight of heavy icicles can damage roofs and gutters. Keeping your gutters clear from debris is crucial to keeping water flowing off the roof before it can turn to ice.

Most homeowners insurance policies cover winter weather-related damage on well-maintained homes. To get a free insurance quote online, contact Fundy Mutual today.