Broadus Insurance provides advice on how to remove a roof ice dam

Removing an ice dam from your roof immediately after spotting the signs is very important to prevent damage to your home. One way to remove an ice dam is to melt it using calcium chloride.

Step 1. Using a roof rake, remove snow 3-4 feet from the edge of your roof, being careful not to damage the roof covering.

Step 2. Use a calcium chloride ice melt product readily available. Do not use rock salt or sodium chloride, which can damage your roof.

Step 3. Fill a tube of cloth, a nylon stocking works well, with the calcium chloride.

Step 4. Safely place and position the calcium chloride-filled tube vertically across the ice dam so that it can melt a channel through the ice thereby allowing the melting snow to drain off of the roof.

Step 5. Cover and protect any shrubbery and plants near the gutters or downspouts. This is important because the calcium chloride-saturated water dripping from the roof may damage the shrubbery and plants.

There are also products available in a prepared sock, disk, or brick form specifically marketed for melting ice on a roof.

How to Prevent an Ice Dam on Your Roof:

Because snow is the cause of the ice dam, removing it from the roof is a temporary way to prevent a problem. Home improvement stores sell roof rakes designed to pull the snow off the roof. Use the rake with caution to avoid damaging the roofing material. Never climb on a snowy or icy roof to remove snow.

Minimize the transfer of warm air from the home to the attic to prevent the heating and freezing cycle. Sealing around recessed lights, chimneys, ducts and gaps in walls prevents the heat from entering the attic. A layer of insulation can also keep the attic cool in the winter.

Ventilation in the attic is very important by drawing warm attic air outside and bringing in cold outside air to keep the attic cool reduces the transfer of heat to the roof. Adding vents and keeping them unblocked helps improve ventilation.

REMEMBER: Using a ladder in snowy and icy conditions may be dangerous. If you cannot safely reach the roof, consider hiring a contractor.