How to Clear a Ridge Vent of Snow

Roofers create ridge vents by cutting a thin strip from the peak of a roof and then installing elevated caps that are open at the bottom. These openings draw up the hot attic air to assist with ventilating the attic space. Unfortunately, winter snow can accumulate on the ridge vents, thus stopping ventilation instead of assisting it. In these cases, homeowners should remove the snow to prevent repeated thawing and melting, which creates ice dams in the gutters.

Non-slip shoes
Ladder
Roof rake

Instructions

- 1
  Look around the outside of the home for an area of ground that is ice-free and that has a sturdy, level surface. Set up a ladder on the area and ask another person to assist you by holding it steady.
- 2
  Extend the telescoping handle of a roof rake as far as possible and lock it into place. Some roof rake handles come in separate sections that you screw together to assemble.
- 3
  Wear heavy treaded, non-slip shoes and climb up the ladder carefully. Once at the top, extend the roof rake up as far as possible. If the roof rake does not reach the ridge vent at the peak, climb up onto the roof carefully.
- 4
  Lift the brush or rubber portion of the rake up and let it drop directly on top of the ridge vent. Grasp the handle firmly and pull it downward approximately 1 to 2 feet to rake the snow off of the ridge vent.
- 5
  Lift the handle back up and drop the rake portion back on the ridge vent in an area of fresh snow. Pull downward again to rake the snow off the ridge vent. Continue raking the snow off the ridge vent until the entire peak of the home is snow-free.

How to Build a Roof Beam

The Length of Time to Apply One Square Shingle to a Roof

Roof Repairs