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Ice Dams Part of Wisconsin Winters

Ice Dams on Wisconsin Homes

This winter we haven’t had a lot of snow in southeastern Wisconsin, but when it does come it’s wet and heavy. Add to that a continuous fluctuation in temperatures and we have the potential for ice dams.

Ice dams form when a buildup of ice and snow freeze at the end of the roof. This prevents melting snow from draining off the rest of the roof. When moisture backs up behind the dam, it can leak into the house and cause damage to the roof, walls ceilings and insulation.

Consider these helpful practices to keep your roof and gutters free of ice dams.

  • Inspect gutters, downspouts and scuppers for damage, blockages, vegetation and any other fault that would prevent their proper operation. Examine the fasteners, hangers and supports as well.
  • Survey the condition of your roof and have all required repairs made to the roof surface, including all flashing and fasteners.
  • Insulate your attic so no heat escapes through the roof.
  • Make sure your attic has sufficient air flow and air exhaust.
  • Create a snow removal plan or contract for snow removal and ice treatment.
Some of this article is taken from helpful information from our reinsurance company Grinnell Mutual.

Lake Mills Hosts Knickerbocker Ice Festival

Icehenge on Rock Lake, Lake Mills, WI

Get out of the house and celebrate winter!

Head on over to Lake Mills for its Knickerbocker Ice Festival. February 5-6. There’s a Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe, Fisheree, Ice Carving, Family games and so much more. And once again, a stunning Icehenge celebrates the old-fashioned art of Rock Lake ice-cutting!

A Beautiful Community

Lake Mills is classic, small-town America, filled with beautiful homes; unique, specialty shops; and fascinating natural attractions. It’s also home to two of Forward Mutual’s independent agents, Harms Insurance Group and Insurance Service Center.

See you at the Knickerbocker Ice Festival!

January is National Radon Action Month

Interactive Wisconsin Radon Map

Test your home for radon and protect your family’s health

Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that likely exists in many homes in the United States. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this naturally occurring gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer. During National Radon Action Month, Forward’s reinsurance company Grinnell Mutual recommends testing your home for radon.

“The most important reason to test your home for radon is to identify potential air quality issues,” said Grinnell Mutual’s Director of Corporate Loss Control Larry Gallagher. “It’s important to evaluate potential radon levels so you can give yourself peace of mind that you do not have high or escalated radon levels within your home, which may increase the risk of lung cancer.”

How to test your home

The Midwest has some of the highest average radon levels in the U.S. You can use one of two types of tests—passive or active—to measure the levels of radon in your home. (Learn more about how radon enters homes.) Tests are available at your local hardware store, health department, or online at www.sosradon.org.

Passive tests often use a charcoal canister or liquid. Generally, they take a week or less to measure radon levels before sending to a laboratory for evaluation. The EPA recommends placing the test in the lowest enclosed level of your home. It should be in an area used by homeowners, but not necessarily a high-traffic area.

An active test will take hourly readings to arrive at an average result over the testing period, usually 90 days. Read the test instructions carefully. Depending on the season in which you conduct your test, the average result may give you a false sense of security about the radon risk in your home.

How to fix radon issues

The EPA recommends hiring a qualified radon mitigation contractor to fix your home’s radon issue. Depending on your home’s radon levels, foundation, and your budget, you and your contractor will select an radon reduction solution that is right for you and your family. (Visit the EPA website for an overview of radon reduction techniques.)

“A homeowner should not attempt to implement or build their own radon mitigation system,” said Gallagher. “Instead, hire a qualified contractor to evaluate the situation and recommend mitigation options.”

The EPA has a checklist you can use to evaluate and select a contractor to help you reduce the radon in your home.

For more information, visit these helpful websites:

National Radon Program Services

Radon Information for Wisconsin

Interactive Map of Wisconsin Indoor Radon Levels

For more information about protecting your home and property, visit our website at Forward Mutual or call 920-261-6616.

Information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Grinnell Mutual was used in this article.

Keep Your Home Safe and Warm This Winter

Tips to for safely heating your home

January’s here along with cold winter weather! Our reinsurance company Grinnell Mutual offers helpful ideas for safely heating your home.

We at Forward Mutual also want to assist in keeping your and your household warm. We offer Equipment Breakdown coverage to protect your furnaces, heat pumps, heaters and generators. If you have any questions about insuring your home or farm this winter, call us at 920-261-6616 or email our office.

Information used with permission from Grinnell Mutual