If your home is beginning to suffer the leaks indicative of an ice dam take a fan a box fan or small air mover into your attic and direct it at the section of roof suffering the leak.
Remove ice dams your roof.
If you have leakage from an ice dam and can t rake the snow off the roof the best way to get rid of the ice dam is to hire a roofing company to steam it off.
5 tips for removing ice dams from your roof 1.
This blast of cold air will usually be enough to refreeze the fingers of the ice dam while the snow and ice is melting away on the outside of your home.
It melts the ice away without damaging the roofing.
An ice pick or awl is best for this task though a crowbar or hatchet can work too.
The roofing professional will first remove excess snow from the roof by shoveling and then steam channels through the ice dam to help it melt.
Have your gutters cleaned before winter.
Illustration by yuko shimizu hacking away at ice dams with a hammer chisel or shovel is bad for your.
How to prevent ice dams.
A rake with wheels.
He may chip away parts of the dam as he goes until the.
Pull off snow with a long handled aluminum roof rake while you stand safely on the ground.
You may not be able to get rid of the ice dam but using this rake you can get rid of the snow that is accumulating behind the ice dam and brush it away to prevent any further water damage.
Use a chemical.
Rake or shovel snow off the roof before it freezes or.
Purchase a rake with wheels on it to avoid damaging the shingles on your roof.
A steamer is like a pressure washer except that the water is hot.
Eliminate its fuel source if left alone the ice dam will continue to be built up by the snow and ice up on your.
Insulate the attic floor to reduce the amount of heat rising from within the house.
Keep your attic well ventilated so it stays cold and properly ventilate the roof and eaves.
Using a roof rake remove snow 3 4 feet from the edge of your roof being careful not to damage the roof.