Winter in Western New York is a sight to behold, and it can make the city of Buffalo look beautiful. But know that it isn’t just about scenic snowfall or cozy firesides, it’s also about keeping up with some serious winter maintenance.
If you’ve ever had to deal with ice dams on your roof, you know just how challenging they can be. As a roofing company with years of experience helping homeowners manage winter weather, we want to share some tried-and-true strategies for safely and effectively removing ice dams.
Ice dams can wreak havoc on your roof and gutters, leading to leaks, damage, and even costly repairs. But before you grab a ladder or hammer, let’s go over some safe methods to help you tackle ice dams. We’ll also explain why they form in the first place, and provide tips on preventing them from becoming a problem next winter.
What Are Ice Dams?
Ice dams are thick ridges of ice that build up along the edges of your roof. Here’s a quick rundown of how it happens:
- Heat from your home escapes through the peak of your roof, warming the surface.
- Snow melts on the warmer parts of your roof and then refreezes as it runs down the roof and reaches the colder edges near your gutters.
- This cycle creates layers of ice, forming the ice dam, which can trap more melted snow behind it.
- Over time, water backed up behind the ice dam can seep into your home, damaging your walls, ceilings, insulation, and more. This makes it important to know how to remove ice dams from the roof safely in order to protect your home.
To learn more about how ice dams form on your roof and how to prevent them, visit our blog post: Winter Warning: Ice Dams On The Roof And How To Prevent Them
Best Methods For Ice Dam Removal
Here are the most effective ways to deal with ice dams, starting from safest, more preventative-based solutions, to more direct removal methods.
Roof Rakes: A Great Preventative Tool
A roof rake, or snow roof rake, is a specialized tool designed to help you remove snow from your roof safely and effectively. Typically, it features a long handle, which can often extend up to 20 feet, and a wide, flat blade or scoop at the end. This design allows you to reach high spots on your roof from the ground, making it a valuable asset for homeowners, especially in areas like Western New York, where heavy snowfall is common.
How It Works: Using a roof rake, carefully remove snow from the first few feet of your roof. This keeps snow buildup to a minimum, reducing the chance of melting and refreezing.
Safety Tips: Always rake from ground level, and never climb onto the roof in icy conditions. Look for a rake with a long handle to help you reach high areas without having to get on a ladder.
By removing excess snow before it has a chance to melt and refreeze, you can significantly reduce the chance of ice dams developing.
Steam Removal: The Most Reliable Option
If you’re looking for a foolproof, safe, and professional approach, steam removal is the way to go. Using a low-pressure steamer is the only method that melts the ice without risking any damage to your roof.
How It Works: A professional roofer uses a specialized steamer to apply low-pressure steam directly to the ice dam. The steam gently melts the ice without affecting your shingles or gutters.
Why It’s the Best Option: Unlike chisels or chemicals, steam won’t damage your roof. Plus, it’s a fast and effective way to get rid of the ice without needing to break out any harsh tools.
This method is highly effective, but it’s also best left to the professionals, as it requires specialized equipment and know-how to operate safely.
Heating Cables (For Prevention Only)
While heating cables won’t remove existing ice dams, they can be a smart preventative measure if you’re dealing with recurring issues. Heating cables are installed along your roof’s edge to help prevent ice from building up in the first place.
How It Works: The heating cables that you install on your roof emit low-level heat to keep ice from forming on the edge of your roof. You can turn them on during the colder months to maintain a clear roofline. These also melt the ice that has already formed on the roof.
Installation: This is a professional job, as improper installation can cause the cables to be ineffective and even pose fire hazards. While they won’t directly remove ice dams, they can reduce future problems and save you time and hassle during winter.
Call A Professional For Removal
The method that offers the best result in terms of safety and effectiveness is calling a professional roofing company to remove ice dams.
Removing ice dams can be risky, especially if you’re not equipped with the right tools, experience, or knowledge on how to safely navigate your roof in icy conditions. A roofing expert will have the proper equipment and techniques to remove ice dams efficiently and without causing damage to your roof or gutters.
Why Call A Professional?
- Professional roofers have the training to safely assess the situation and determine the most effective approach for removing ice dams without damaging your roof.
- Working on an icy roof is dangerous, even for experienced homeowners. Roofers have the proper equipment, like harnesses, ladders, and safety gear, to reduce the chance of these risks.
- Roofing contractors use specialized tools, like steamers, to safely melt the ice without damaging your shingles. They also have access to roof rakes and other tools to help with the removal.
- In addition to removing the ice dam, roofers can provide valuable advice on how to prevent ice dams in the long run.
What NOT To Do When Removing Ice Dams
Now that you know the best methods for ice dam removal, let’s talk about some things to avoid. We’ve seen homeowners try all kinds of DIY solutions that end up causing more harm than good. Here are some of them:
- Don’t use a hammer or chisel. While some roofers might suggest tapping the ice with a hammer to break it up, this can also damage your shingles.
- Avoid rock salt as it can damage shingles and corrode metal. Calcium chloride is the safer option.
- Don’t get on your roof in winter. Stick to ground-level solutions or hire a professional for roof access.
How To Prevent Ice Dams In the Future
The best way to deal with ice dams? Prevent them from forming in the first place. While winter weather in WNY is unavoidable, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of ice dams occurring:
Insulate Your Attic: Proper insulation keeps the heat in your home instead of allowing it to escape through your roof, melting the snow.
Ventilate The Roof: A well-ventilated roof stays closer to the outdoor temperature, helping prevent snow from melting and refreezing.
Seal Air Leaks: Seal gaps around vents, chimneys, and light fixtures to prevent warm air from escaping into your attic.
When you make these upgrades, you’re investing in a long-term solution that will reduce your chances of dealing with ice dams, saving you money on heating costs in the process.
Need Help? Contact The Best Roofers In WNY Today!
Whether ice dams have already started forming on your roof or you want to take necessary preventive measures, look no further than the team at Buffalo’s Best Roofing Company. Over the years, we have helped many homes and businesses in Western New York prepare their roofs for the upcoming winter. Contact us today at (716) 276-3673 to learn more about how we can help you.