The winter season in general is not kind to roofs. Your roof has to contend with strong winds, heavy snowfalls, and icy temperatures. Now add an ice dam to the mix, which will add additional strain to your roof and can endanger the structural integrity of your shingles, gutters, and eaves.

Once this occurs it needs to be dealt with quickly, which means you need to get your ladder out and start the ice dam removal process.
All homeowners know that removing an ice dam by yourself is certainly not an easy feat. It’s best to have a clear plan and clever strategies to make this tough task a little easier. The team at McKinley Ice & Snow Removal Service are experts when it comes to ice dams and water damage. We’ll assist you with this tough task.
This post covers all you need to know about ice dams and how to effectively deal with them.

ICE DAMS EXPLAINED

The most visible part of any ice dam is the icy stalactites that hang off the edge of the roof. If it wasn’t for their destructive qualities, you could almost describe it as pretty.
Do not underestimate ice dams, as they can cause some pretty serious damage to your home, both inside and out. Ice dams prevent water from running down the roof and causing it to back up, going underneath shingles and eventually into your home.
As homes are heated in the winter, hot air can escape through your attic causing the bottom layer of snow on your roof to melt. This water runs down the roof, into the gutters and eaves. As soon as it’s exposed to cold air, it refreezes and eventually forms a solid mass along the edge of the roof.

As this process of thawing and freezing continues, the ice dam forms and grows. Water starts to back up and runs beneath the shingles and can end up running into your home.

DAMAGES CAUSED BY ICE DAMS

Ice dams can cause damage in two ways, which are the additional weight your roof will need to support, as well as the backup of water.

The weight of the ice causes gutters, downspouts, and eaves to sag under the burden, which can cause cracks or even complete failure. Furthermore, there is a risk of heavy sheets of ice breaking loose and falling to the ground, potentially causing damage to window sills, porches, sidewalks, or causing injury to people.

Backed up water will start to flood under the shingles and loosen them. Excess water can also start to seep in around flashing and soak right through the underlayment.

The water will continue its destructive path, into the attic and from there it can soak through the insulation and ceiling. You may quickly find yourself having to deal with wet interior walls, wet flooring, and even water damaged furniture. Once this occurs, you will most likely have to call in professional cleanup and water damage restoration services.

ICE DAM SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Ice dams mostly form on eaves, but this is not always the case. There are other locations where ice dams can start to form.
Keep reading for more tips and information regarding ice dams and which signs to look out for.
The roof’s design, orientation and slope are all factors that need to be considered. It’s important to check roof valleys, where two slopes meet, on a regular basis. When excess snow builds up here, it is likely that ice dams are being formed. At this point you can consider making use of residential snow removal services to help clear your roof of excess snow.

Check the eaves on the north side of the house on a regular basis. This would be a perfect place for the development of ice dams since it receives little direct sunlight and is exposed to icy winds.

It’s good to keep your eye on your eaves. Icicles forming along roof edges that are without gutters, may be the first indications of a possible ice dam being formed. Icicles are a warning indication that there may be a problem, but they do not necessarily confirm the presence of an ice dam. If you notice icicles on gutters that you know are dry, it most likely means that there is no ice dam forming. It’s best to get rid of them anyway, as they may pose an overhead safety risk.

Check the attic after a snowstorm, for overhead leaks or moisture developing on the walls. Any one or both can be a clear indication of the presence of an ice dam.
The local weather forecasts can help keep you informed when conditions would be perfect for the forming of ice dams. Basically, if you notice that temperatures are relatively warm during the day, but plummet at night, you need to be on the lookout for ice dams. The snow that melts during the day will freeze at night, causing a high likelihood of water getting backed up on your roof. 

DON’TS FOR ICE DAM REMOVAL

Once you have established that you do have an ice dam problem, your first thoughts may be to get rid of this through the use of salt and some force. This is not the best approach, and
you can end up causing more harm to your roof.
Using a shovel is not a good idea, nor does it work very well for this problem. Remember that using a shovel can easily cause you to lose your balance whether on a ladder, or on the roof.

A hammer is another ineffective tool to break the ice, as you can cause serious damage to your gutters and roof shingles.
Avoid using rock salt. It does melt ice, however it can easily kill plants and parts of your lawn. Rock salt also contributes to speeding up corrosion of your metals gutter and it causes paint to peel.

DO’S FOR ICE DAM REMOVAL

We have already covered what to avoid when it comes to the removal of ice dams. Let’s now look at effective methods and strategies of how to get rid of ice dams.
The first step is always to ensure your safety before you climb up a ladder and make sure to check your equipment. Create a buddy system, which is having someone know what you are doing and keeping an eye on you. They can act in the event of an accident.

If you are not entirely comfortable with the process of removing an ice dam, it would be wise to call on any of the local ice and snow removal companies, or a handyman. If you are happy to take on this DIY project, you can use any of the three strategies listed below.

ROOF RAKING

This strategy will keep you off the ladder and firmly on the ground, which is a distinct advantage. The roof rake will assist you with snow removal from the roof. This takes away the water source which in turn, will prevent ice dams. Through this snow cleaning process, it will uncover the shingles, exposing them to sunlight, which will help warm the roof. The likelihood of water refreezing is lower due to the warmer roof surface.

Bonus Tip: Choose a wheeled roof rake to make snow removal easier.

ICE DAM BREAKING

Earlier we listed the hammer as a tool to avoid when trying to break the ice dams. A tool that can be safely used is a rubber mallet. As safety always comes first, make sure that the ladder is secure and that no one on the ground will get in the way of falling ice.
Work systematically and break the ice into smaller pieces. This is a time-consuming strategy, but effective. Once done, your eaves will be ice-free, and your roof will remain undamaged.

MELT THE ICE

The first step is to use a roof rake for a roof snow removal process. Once you have removed most of the snow, it’s time to melt the ice dam. Using old pantyhose filled with calcium chloride, place them vertically across the roof. In roughly 30 to 60 minutes the ice will melt. Using calcium chloride as an ice melting method won’t harm the roofing material, unlike rock salt. It’s best to avoid using this method on metal gutters or if you have a metal roof.
Bonus Tip: Protect plants, bushes, and lawn from the melting ice dam, cover them with plastic sheeting.

PREVENTION OF ICE DAMS

Heat leaking from the attic is the main cause of ice dams. Warm air will always rise, but the impact it has on a snow-covered roof is what can be controlled and reduced.

ROOF VENTS TO BE KEPT CLEAN

Ensure that leaves and other debris are not blocking any ridge or soffit vents. These vents are crucial in the prevention of ice dams, as they let cold air flow under the roof and prevent snow from melting.

ATTICS NEED TO BE SEALED

As heat escaping via the attic is the quickest way to have ice dams forming on your roof, make sure to minimize any heat loss. Any pull-down stairs or hatches need to be securely closed. With weather strips around the sides and foam board fastened to the backs, you can
reduce heat loss.

AIR DUCTS NEED TO BE INSULATED

Wrapping the attic air ducts with foil-faced insulation will prevent heat from escaping from your home and entering the attic space. This advice can reduce heating and cooling costs all year round.

VALLEYS AND GUTTERS NEED TO BE PROTECTED

Another way to put preventative techniques into action is to focus on gutters and roof valleys. The installation of thermal breaks and snow melt cables can help to keep eaves clear. Furthermore, make sure to clear your gutters during the winter season to reduce possible roof damage from ice dams. 

MCKINLEY ICE AND SNOW REMOVAL SERVICE CAN HELP WITH ICE DAMS AND WATER DAMAGE

We hope that this post has helped to create a better understanding of ice dams and how to remove them, without damaging your roof. Feel free to share this information with friends and family. We are here to support homeowners, so make sure to visit this page again soon for further information on all winter related property challenges.

Get in touch with McKinley Ice and Snow Removal Service for all water related property damage and restoration services. We will gladly assist, and you can get hold of us 24/7 for any water damage related emergencies. Let our friendly team assist you, contact us today.