Winter is here and it's getting icy. But people shouldn't just look out for ice on the roads — they also should be checking for ice in their gutters.

If left unchecked, water from melting ice can leak into a home and cause water damage.

Here's what to know.

What is an ice dam?

When snow melts off of a rooftop, it can freeze into ice when the water hits a cold gutter edge. As water continues dripping down, the ice can turn into a dam and can plug up gutters — which means water starts pooling on top of the roof.

Without anywhere else to go, the water might creep between the shingles and start leaking inside. That can lead to some costly repairs to attic wall and ceilings.

"When there are drastic temperatures swings, the prevalence of ice dams increases," said Brian Ortner, spokesperson

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