5 Reasons to Leave Ice Dam Removal to the Pros

If you live in Minnesota, there’s a good chance you’ve got ice dams on your roof during winter weather conditions. And if you leave them where they’re at, they’re likely to cause all kinds of costly damage to your home, from roof problems to water damage. While it might be tempting to grab a ladder and start hacking away at them, this is one of the worst things you can do.

In this post from Restoration Network, we’re covering some of the top reasons ice dam removal is best left to the pros. To get ice dam removal when you need it, give our team a call.

Signs Your Roof Has an Ice Dam

You can’t even consider ice dam removal if you don’t even know if your roof has an ice dam. Ice dams are caused by water freezing towards the edge of your roof due to uneven heating or clogged gutters. If left alone, an ice dam will damage your roof underlayment, causing water damage.

If you notice any of these signs, your roof likely has an ice dam:

●        Visible Ice

●        Damaged Gutters

●        Damaged Shingles

●        Water Damage

●        Snow Only Melts at the Top of Your Roof

1.   Ice Melt Can Damage Your Shingles

There are a number of ice melt products on the market. But what works for your driveway pavement isn’t necessarily designed for your roof. Simply dumping calcium chloride all over your ice dams is one of the worst things you can do.

While there are all sorts of homespun methods lurking in the cobwebby corners of the Internet, damaging your shingles and risking water leaks inside your home just simply isn’t worth the risk. And whatever you do, avoid rock salt, as it can be incredibly destructive to your lawn when it runs off your roof.

2.   Breaking Ice Dams Manually Can Lead to Property Damage

While it’s possible to chip away at your ice dams long enough to break them into manageable chunks and knock them off onto the ground, there’s a lot that can go wrong. Many of the tools homeowners commonly use to break away at their ice dams can cause damage.

Although it might seem safe to use a hatchet, as long as you don’t hit too hard, things can get out of control fast. And once you break away the ice, it has to go somewhere, which means you could end up with ice breaking your windows, damaging your siding, or destroying your spouse’s prized rose bush.

3.   Ladder Safety Is Harder Than It Seems

You might say to yourself, “I’ll just be careful when climbing the ladder.” But dealing with snow and ice means the ladder will eventually end up wet and slick. Worse, handling ice dam removal means carrying a heavy bag of ice melt or some sharp piece of equipment like a hatchet or ax. The chance that something could go wrong just isn’t worth the risk.

4.   Avoid Personal Injury

One of the worst things that can happen is falling from your roof or ladder while trying to remove ice from the edge of your roof and gutters. If you aren’t a professional, leave standing on the roof for edgy scenes in movies and TV. That way, you can avoid missing out on work due to a broken leg.

Snow isn’t as great of a cushion as you’d think. Not to mention, you can burn yourself from carrying boiling water up a ladder and onto your roof or electrocuting yourself when using a hairdryer.

5.   Avoid Wasting Money

Don’t waste time removing an ice dam by yourself. While you might find it inconvenient to have someone come to your home to remove an ice dam, it’ll save you the time, money, and frustration you’d face dealing with an ice dam as an amateur.

Relax indoors with your family by the fireplace drinking hot cocoa, and rest yourself from the long workweek. 

Top Ice Dam Prevention Tips

While it doesn’t cost too much to get your ice dam removed, ice dams are generally avoidable as long as you keep your roof well-maintained.

Escape the winter cycle of melting and refreezing snow and water into ice by following these ice dam prevention tips to stop the formation from happening:

●        Install Insulation

●        Install Waterproof Underlayment

●        Improve Roof Ventilation

●        Clean Your Gutters

●        Put Heat Cables on Your Roof

●        Rake Snow From Your Roof Before It Melts and Refreezes

Call Our Twin Cities Ice Dam Removal Pros

When you need ice dam removal, call someone with experience to get the job done safely and swiftly. We’re committed to providing trustworthy expertise to Twin Cities residents and throughout the surrounding areas. And if you need water damage restoration services after ice dams damage your roof, we’ve got you covered.

To get the help you need, contact us or give Restoration Network a call at 612-564-0202.