Ice dams are a common sight in northern new england winters and home partners has dealt with quite a few.
How to fix ice dams on your roof.
A warmer roof however will soon have clear spots where the snow has melted off and may well have icicles hanging from the eaves.
Can you put ice melt on your roof.
If you look up and see a big chunk of ice on the bottom edge of your roof your forensic work is done.
This chunk of ice is called an ice dam and it can cause water to backup beneath shingles and ice dams cause damage to walls and roof structures.
An ice dam is a hump of ice that forms at the edge of a roof under certain wintertime conditions.
If you re wondering how to fix an ice dam on your roof here s how you can prevent them altogether or remove them if they ve already formed.
The key to preventing ice dams is simply to keep your attic and roof cold.
After a snowfall a cold roof will have a thick blanket of snow.
For the best results do it fairly soon after heavy snowfall.
It will put gutters and downspouts at risk too.
How to prevent ice dams use heated cables.
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.
If ignored ice dams can cause serious damage to your roof gutters paint insulation and interior drywall and other surfaces.
You have an ice dam.
How to know if you have an ice dam problem.
Despite the romantic image of.
You cannot safely put ice melt.
Roof raking can prevent ice dams.
When you remove the snow from your roof it deprives the ice dam of the melting snow that it needs to form and grow.
Definitely before the melting and re freezing process has started.
Eliminate its fuel source if left alone the ice dam will continue to be built up by the snow and ice up on your roof.
Close up attic bypasses.
Here are five ways to remove an ice dam from your roof.
Attached with clips along the roof s edge in a zigzag pattern heated cables help prevent ice dams that lift shingles and cause leaks.