Icicles might look impressive while hanging on the eaves of your house, but they spell doom. US Reports indicate that at least 15 people die from falling icicles every year. It’s, therefore, necessary to know how to remove ice dams to guarantee the safety of your household.
One thing about living in Naperville; you must be wary of the heavy snowfall during winter. Without the right preparation, your roof gathers ice dams since it’s exposed to the weather. You should consider ice dam removal to reduce injury risk and potential damage to your roof.
Removing ice dams is easier said than done since you risk tearing the shingles. Since they need to go, it’s for you to come up with ways to get the icicles off your roof safely.
Wondering how to go about ice dam removal? Read on to learn strategies for ice dam removal and prevention tips.
What Is an Ice Dam?
Before we look at how to prevent them, we need to know what ice dams are.
Ice dams form when the ice at the top melts and flows to lower and cooler parts of the roof. A heated roof causes the melted ice from the warm air inside at the top. At the bottom part, water accumulates, which we call an ice dam.
The ice dams are dangerous since they cause water back up into your home. It’s a matter of time before you start seeing signs of moisture damage in your home. Therefore, you should consider doing away with the ice dams as soon as they form.
Strategies for Ice Dam Removal
There are numerous ways to get rid of icicles, with the risk level on each method being subjective. The desired effect is to get the snow and ice off your roof and gutter, but it can get risky.
Of course, we recommend calling in roofing experts to handle the ice dam removal safely. They prevent ice dam damage to your roof or your household members.
Here are some common but safe ice dam remedies.
Melt the Ice Dam With Steam
Are you looking to get rid of your ice dams fast? Melting the ice dam using steam is a quick but safe way to remove icicles.
The method entails subjecting the ice dam to low-pressure steam to melt the ice. Melted ice is then channeled into the gutters and onto the drains. The method, however, requires a professional to do it for the ultimate results, so call in the experts.
Use Calcium Chloride for Ice Melting
Using calcium chloride to melt ice dams is also a viable solution if you have some time on your hands. You’ll have the icicles off your roof safely since this method is really gentle on your shingles.
Calcium chloride is an impurity that raises the melting point for the ice dam. Once placed over the ice dam, you can trust the chemical to eat away the ice dam with time.
Be cautious when using the chemicals since they’re corrosive and can damage your downspouts. The runoff water isn’t also healthy for your lawn, so consider directing it away.
Break Up the Ice Dams
Lessening the ice chunks on your roof is also a strategy of ice dam removal. Break up the ice dam using a mallet to allow snow to clear from your roof.
The method, although effective, can be hugely dangerous. Some dangers include falling ice, climbing on the roof, and damaged shingles. Let the experts handle this to avoid injuries and possible shingle or gutter damage.
Prevention Tips for Ice Dams
Instead of worrying about the dangers of ice dam removal, it’s wise to prevent its formation. Having the right precautions for ice dam prevention avoids damage to your home.
If you’re thinking about how to prevent ice dams, here are some tips that can help deal with the issue. Consult roof repair experts to know which solution best fits your home.
Seal and Insulate the Attic
Ice dams form due to the air leaks in your home that warm up the attic. Sealing and insulating the attic is a great move to prevent ice dams from forming.
Sealing air leaks prevents the warm air from getting to the attic. Ensuring full-proof insulation of your attic reduces heat loss, thus reducing snow melts. You, therefore, have a lesser chance of ice dams forming.
Have the experts inspect air leaks in your home and insulate the attic.
Ensure Proper Ventilation
A warm interior and an extremely cold roof contribute to the formation of icicles. The solution involves balancing the inside and outside roof temperatures through proper ventilation.
Ridge vents allow cold air to run under the roof, essentially keeping it cold. Ideally, you can reduce the heating and cooling need, which will save you lots of money. Most importantly, you reduce the possibility of ice dams forming on your roof.
Call roof experts within Naperville to determine the ventilation that’s best for you.
Clean Your Gutters System
Ice dam formation can occur from a blockage within your gutter system. Keeping the gutters clean always helps ensure that they drain water, so no ice dams on your roof.
Clean the gutters regularly, especially after the fall, to clear them of leaves and debris. You’ll likely not experience ice dams during the winter since the downspouts can drain well.
You could also install a gutter guard to prevent debris and leaf buildup. The gutter guard system will offer you a sturdy gutter that drains well for years.
You Now Know How to Remove Ice Dams
Ice dam removal should be your number one priority to ensure a safe household. The above guide contains information on how to remove ice dams. Considering it’s challenging, leave ice dam removal to the experts.
Amenity Roofing Siding and Gutters are your trusted local roofing experts within Naperville, guaranteeing service satisfaction. We’ll handle ice dam removal and prevention to protect you and your home.
Contact us today to get a free estimate.
