Ice dams are typically caused by uneven heat loss from your home in wintry conditions such as snow, heat melting the snow, and cold temperatures re-freezing melted snow. The heat is typically caused by inadequate attic insulation or from warm air seeping into the attic from living spaces below. This causes the roof to warm above freezing temperature, which allows snow to melt and then re-freeze before it reaches the roof’s edge. If this cycle repeats over and over, an ice dam forms and water collects behind it. As the water pools, it backs up under your roofing material and can cause expensive water damage.

Here are our top 6 things you can do to prevent Ice Dams from forming on your roof this spring!

• Keep the attic well ventilated. One-third square metre of free ventilation opening is recommended for every 45 square metres of attic space.
• Seal air leaks to prevent warm air leakage from plumbing vents, junction boxes from ceiling fixtures and attic hatches.
• Keep the attic floor well insulated (between 40 and 56 centimetres of insulation) to minimize the amount of heat rising into the attic from below.
• Clean leaves and other debris from gutters before the first snow. This will help prevent ice buildup in your gutters. Also consider using an ice shield under your shingles when your house is getting re-roofed.
• Use a roof rake to clear the snow above the gutter. Clear about one metre above the gutter to allow water to drain freely into the gutter.
• Consider hiring an energy specialist to evaluate the performance of your home, and recommend some things you can do to minimize energy waste.

Too Late? Already Have Ice Dams?

There are many factors that contribute to work-related stress. When you face impending deadlines, demanding tasks and challenging goals, you may begin to feel overwhelmed. When you do not take steps to address stress, it may develop into a more serious health condition.

SGI Canada announced today that, starting November 18th, all clients that pay direct to SGI will be provided with a new ePayment option. This will allow them to make online credit card payments or set up a payment plan on renewal. This option is toted as "fast, easy, and convenient for policyholders who prefer to pay online" by SGI insurance representatives.

Just in time for the Alberta snow, Intact announced this week some updates to their my ATV and my Snowmobile insurance packages. These updates will be availalbe November 15, 2013 in Alberta, NWT and the Yukon.

Formerly called juvenile-onset or insulin-dependent diabetes, 10 per cent of those diagnosed with diabetes suffer from Type 1. Its symptoms, and the resulting diagnoses, most often occur in childhood or early adolescence, but can strike adults as well.

Onset

When a person is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, it means that their pancreas does not generate insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose, a type of sugar, from food into cells to generate energy. Without insulin, too much glucose stays in the blood. Over time, high blood sugar can lead to many serious complications, including:

Why Do I Need a Home Inventory Checklist?

Though your homeowners insurance policy provides the protection that you need in the event of a loss such as a fire or burglary, your policy can only pay for items that you can document. In order to ensure that all your prize possessions will be replaced, you should conduct a home inventory so you have a finite record of everything that you own. This inventory will assist you in determining which items were destroyed or stolen.

We all know that kids eat what is available. Because adults usually decide what food kids will eat, it’s important to help them form healthy habits now to maintain a healthy weight and avoid future health problems. Small changes in the following key areas can make a huge difference.

Fruits and Vegetables

Kids should eat five fruits and vegetables each day. Frozen and canned fruits and vegetables count too, so serve those if fresh ones aren’t available. Offer kids 100 per cent juice with no added sugar. For picky eaters, you can mix or hide them in other dishes, like putting peas in rice or cucumbers on sandwiches.

Reduce Fat and Sugar

• Buy low- or non-fat dairy products like milk and yogourt
• Choose lean cuts of meat like skinless chicken
• Bake instead of fry
• Substitute olive or vegetable oil for butter
• Provide less soda and sugar-sweetened drinks
• Serve fruit-based desserts instead of ice cream or cake

We know that the physical act of climbing a ladder is far from difficult and that you've probably climbed many a ladder in your lifetime. But, the fact remains that ladders are responsible for many injuries and deaths every year in Canada. 

Cholesterol is a type of fat produced by the liver. Essential to proper body function, it aids in hormone production, supports nerve and brain development, helps the liver digest fats and is a key substance in every cell of the body.

While cholesterol is important to your health, it is possible you can have too much of a good thing. Cholesterol travels to your cells through your bloodstream. Because it is a fat, it does not mix well with water or blood, and must be wrapped in protein. This is called lipoprotein cholesterol, which is categorized into two forms: