How to Remove Ice Dams From Your Roof
First, always wear protective gloves and eyewear.
Use a sturdy, aluminum extension ladder, and have someone stand on the bottom rung of the ladder to prevent it from slipping.
Stay clear of overhead electrical lines.
Ice dams occur when snow melts at the top of the roof and then re-freezes at the roof's overhang/gutter.
The ice backs up and can sometimes lift the shingles and re-melt where water will enter your home.
This often occurs when your home's attic is not ventilated properly, which is another topic in itself.
If you are experiencing this problem right now, the only quick-fix solution is to remove the ice from your gutter line.
First, use a snow rake and pull the snow off of the roof, be careful to not pull the snow on you or damage the shingles.
Then pour ice melting pellets (not rock salt) into nylon stockings, tie the ends off, where the filled stocking looks like a sausage; then lay the filled stockings on the gutter line area.
Make sure the stockings are placed vertically as well, so that they point to the ridge and gutter; it will create a path for the water to drain into the gutter.
In the Spring, make sure the roof and attic is vented properly and install roof heater cables.
NOTE: You should contact a roofing specialist to properly remove the ice from the roof and inspect the roof/attic area in the Spring to see what corrective measures need to take place to correct the ice dam situation for your roof.
Use a sturdy, aluminum extension ladder, and have someone stand on the bottom rung of the ladder to prevent it from slipping.
Stay clear of overhead electrical lines.
Ice dams occur when snow melts at the top of the roof and then re-freezes at the roof's overhang/gutter.
The ice backs up and can sometimes lift the shingles and re-melt where water will enter your home.
This often occurs when your home's attic is not ventilated properly, which is another topic in itself.
If you are experiencing this problem right now, the only quick-fix solution is to remove the ice from your gutter line.
First, use a snow rake and pull the snow off of the roof, be careful to not pull the snow on you or damage the shingles.
Then pour ice melting pellets (not rock salt) into nylon stockings, tie the ends off, where the filled stocking looks like a sausage; then lay the filled stockings on the gutter line area.
Make sure the stockings are placed vertically as well, so that they point to the ridge and gutter; it will create a path for the water to drain into the gutter.
In the Spring, make sure the roof and attic is vented properly and install roof heater cables.
NOTE: You should contact a roofing specialist to properly remove the ice from the roof and inspect the roof/attic area in the Spring to see what corrective measures need to take place to correct the ice dam situation for your roof.