How To Fix Ice Damming On Roof

Ice dams can be frustrating.

How to fix ice damming on roof.

Although climbing onto the roof is. If you have leakage from an ice dam and can t rake the snow off the roof the best way to get rid of the ice dam is to hire a roofing company to steam it off. An ice dam forms when the roof over the attic gets warm enough to melt the bottom layer of snow. So the first step is to remove this ice and snow using a snow rake which is a retractable rake that can extend up to about 17 feet or so in length.

Seal all points where warm air leaks from the living space into the spaces immediately below the roof sheathing. Chip off the ice. The best ways to prevent ice dams on your roof before winter. Insulate the living space well enough to prevent conduction and convection of heat.

Fast fixes for ice dam removal blow in cold air. Calcium chloride ice melting product can also be generously sprinkled on the dam causing the ice to break down and melt off. If you have an ice dam forming you can apply calcium chloride or similar. If left alone the ice dam will continue to be built up by the snow and ice up on your roof.

Be very careful here you don t want to further damage the roof or hurt yourself by falling off. If you suspect an ice dam developed on your roof there are things you can do right away to minimize the damage. A steamer is like a pressure washer except that the water is hot. Use calcium chloride or an ice melt product.

Ice dams appear quickly after a heavy snow because of the insulating properties. It melts the ice away without damaging the roofing. A rake with wheels. However don t use rock salt or sodium chloride because while these will also melt the ice they can damage your roof.

The snow melts into water and t. Illustration by yuko shimizu hacking away at ice dams with a hammer chisel or shovel is bad for your. First get rid of any built up snow using a roof rake used for single family homes with pitched roofs or shoveling it off on flat roofs or when there s a significant amount of snow. Use a roof rake after heavy snowfalls.