Do's & Don'ts of Ice Dam Removal

After heavy amounts of snow, cold weather can cause ice dams to form on your roof. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms on the edge of your roof and prevents snow from melting and running down your gutters, posing a threat to your home. Of course, you’ll want to remove ice dams as soon as possible, but it’s important to follow these do’s and don’ts to protect yourself from injury.

Damage Caused by Ice Dams

Ice dams can damage your home in multiple ways. Since they prevent snow from draining off of your roof, snow can seep into your ceilings as it melts and cause water damage. If melted snow refreezes, the new ice can burrow itself under your shingles and damage your roof. The weight of the ice dam can also weigh down your gutters and cause them to break off of your fascia. In order to prevent damage, you need to properly and safely remove the ice dam as soon as possible.

The Do’s of Ice Dam Removal

• Do remove snow off of your roof once it falls. If you’re trying this as a DIY before calling the pros, use a special roof rake to get rid of the snow.
• Do chip away at the ice. For more immediate results, chip paths through the ice dam so water can drain down it - just be careful as you get closer to your roofing.
• Do properly ventilate and insulate your attic to prevent future ice dams.
• Do hire a professional if you are not fully confident in your handyman abilities. It’s actually safer to have a pro do this job.

The Don’ts of Ice Dam Removal

• Don’t ever remove snow by standing on your roof. You could easily slip and injure yourself. Stand on a secured ladder to do the job instead, and have someone spot you.
• Don’t install mechanical equipment in your attic. These are major fire hazards, so just stick to insulation.
• Don’t rake across your roof.  Rake down the slope of your roof so you don’t damage your shingles and cause even more problems.
• Don’t use salt or calcium snow melters on your roof. These are extremely corrosive and could harm your roofing, grass, and plants when they drain away.

They say a good defense is the best offense. Well, that’s true here, too. The easiest way to avoid ice dam damage is by preventing them from forming in the first place. The experts at All Aluminum Gutters can outfit your gutters with heat tape to melt snow as soon as it falls onto your gutters and stop ice dams from forming. Call us today at 631-816-2498 for more information on preventing ice dams from damaging your home.