The Do's & Don'ts of Ice Dam Removal

All Aluminum Gutters
531 Sunrise Highway, West Babylon, New York 11704

(631) 816-2498

Ice dams can cause a slew of costly problems for homeowners if left unattended to. With the weather finally warming up, that snow and ice residue on your roof is probably beginning to melt off, which means it’s prime time for ice dams to form. To help you protect your home and its gutters, here’s a quick guide for removing ice dams from your roof.

• DON’T install any mechanical equipment in the attic. Not only are these a fire hazard that can easily ignite your insulation, but they can also cause ice dams to worsen from the heat they produce.
• DO ventilate and insulate your attic. In order to help snow and ice melt more evenly and prevent ice dams you’ll need to keep your attic’s temperature regulated. Ventilating and insulating will help ensure that it doesn’t become too warm.
• DO remove snow from your roof. Using a roof rake, gently and carefully pull or push as much snow as you can off your roof. Make sure to pull down and not across to preserve your shingles.
• DON’T ever walk on the roof. As you well know, snow and ice can be very slippery, which is why you should never attempt to stand on your roof while cleaning it. Instead, use a sturdy ladder to reach the roof.
  
  
• DO chip away at the ice carefully. It’s important to be very gentle when removing ice from your roof and gutters, and cease when you’re close to the roofing. Aggressively chipping away at ice can cause damage that require roof repairs.
• DON’T use snow melt on your roof or gutters. While these might seem like a good option, using chemicals on your roof and gutters can cause them to corrode. Once the ice melts and travels through your gutters, the runoff can also be detrimental to your lawn.
• DO consider calling a professional! Removing snow and ice from your roof and gutters can be a very dangerous endeavor. Like many home maintenance tasks, it might be a better idea to give your local gutter cleaning company a call instead of trying to DIY it.

Even with the most diligent snow removal plan, your gutters can still be susceptible to sagging, cracking and detachment due to the extra weight. If you find that your gutters have been damaged due to inclement weather conditions or need to be cleaned, just give All Aluminum Gutters a call.

We offer gutter installation and repair at an affordable price to customers in the Long island, Queens, Westchester and Bronx areas. Click here or call 631-816-2498 to learn more.