Sure, the icicles hanging on the eaves of your house make for a picturesque, Instagram-worthy scene, but did you know they can spell big problems for your home? With the significant amount of snow many states received this winter, the same conditions that cause those pretty icicles to form can also lead to ice dams.
An ice dam is a blockage formed from melting snow that freezes along the roof edges and gutters. As ice builds, it can trap water that eventually will seep through the seams of your roof shingles. This can cause significant damage to your walls, insulation, ceiling, and other areas.
In these remaining few months of winter, it's all about damage control. If you see ice dams forming on your property, here is what you can do to minimize the potential damage:
If more than a foot of snow falls, remove it by using a roof rake or push broom. Carefully, and very lightly, sweep the rake or broom down the slope of the roof line. Never pull snow sideways across the roof or it may break off the shingles. It's not necessary to remove all of the ice in the gutters or the ice dam itself, as long as you have removed the snow from the roof.
Sprinkle the ice buildup with lawn fertilizer that contains urea particles (found at most hardware or home and garden stores). The higher the nitrogen content in the fertilizer, the faster the ice will melt. Don't use driveway salt, which can kill your plants and grass.
Don't allow icicles to hang from the roofline or gutters. Carefully break them off and keep the icicles away from the foundation of your home.
Most importantly, be safe! Unless you've been properly trained, removing an ice dam can be quite dangerous. When removing ice dams, you not only risk damage to your roof, but also severe personal injury to yourself if you are not careful. We strongly recommend contacting professionals with the proper equipment and roofing experience to carry out this job.
To learn more on how to prevent, spot, and remove ice dams, check out tips from Family Handyman for preventing ice dams.
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