How To Remove Ice Buildup On Roof

Removing ice dams and roof ice build up.

How to remove ice buildup on roof.

Damage to your home s roof from excess snow and ice buildup can ruin your winter season even if you ve winterized your home an ice dam may still form on the edges of your roof and it can be a nightmare waiting to happen. 2 remove the icicles. Remove snow and ice dam from the roof this will eliminate the main ingredients necessary for the formation of another ice dam and will usually stop the water from coming in within an hour. Using a roof rake and push broom not water remove the snow by carefully pulling it down the.

Using a roof rake remove snow 3 4 feet from the edge of your roof being careful not to damage the roof covering or to allow snow to build up around walking paths or to block emergency exits. This will melt channels in the ice dam through which water can flow. If you see icicles hanging from your roof you most likely have an ice dam. If you still have snow or ice on your metal roof there are several different tools you can use to melt the snow like heat cables calcium chloride or hot water.

Also it s handy to buy a roof snow scraper in order to remove snow buildup thereby reducing the source of melting water itself. An ice pick or awl is best for this task though a crowbar or hatchet can work too. These dams can tear apart your home so limit them by. Preventing and removing ice dams is critical.

Lay the hose onto the roof so it crosses the ice dam and overhangs the gutter. Standing on a stabilized ladder or other sturdy object reach into the gutter and chip away at the ice buildup starting at the gutter and working backward up the roof being careful not to damage the roof itself. A visible inspection of your roofline can reveal a buildup of snow and ice and an accumulation of icicles. Ice dams happen when ice melts trickles down the roof then freezes again.

One way to remove an ice dam is to melt it using calcium chloride ice melt. This step is a bit simpler than others as it doesn t require to climb on your roof. The calcium chloride will eventually melt through the snow and ice and create a channel for water to flow down into the gutters or off the roof. A metal roof is great for preventing snow build up because the sun heats up the metal and causes the snow to slide right off.

Ice dams can form slowly and unexpectedly unless you know what to look for.