How to Melt Ice on a Roof & in Gutters

Ice buildup on a roof and in guttering can cause water to back up under the shingles, and cause leaks down the inside of exterior walls. Keeping the gutters clean will reduce the opportunity for buildup, but under the right conditions a dam can occur on the edge of the roof as the snow melts and refreezes. A dam prevents the ice on the roof and in the gutters from melting and flowing away. Creating a flow path through the dam is done safely and easily and makes for a ice-free roof and gutters.

Pantyhose
Scissors
String
5 gallon bucket of calcium chloride

Instructions

- 1
  Stand near the roof and throw, by hand, calcium chloride crystals up to the roof and guttering where the ice is. Spread the crystals evenly as best you can. Continue until the icy area is saturated with the crystals. Wear sturdy work gloves when handling the crystals. This will begin melting the ice but the dam still needs to have a breech in it to allow the water to run off.
- 2
  Cut the legs off from the pantyhose, near the top of each leg.
- 3
  Loosely fill each leg with calcium chloride crystals.
- 4
  Tie the top of the hosiery legs with the string to prevent the crystals from falling out.
- 5
  Place a filled leg vertically on the roof edge over the top of the thickest part of the ice dam, with the top of the leg on the roof pointing towards the peak and only about four to five inches hanging over the edge of the gutters. Place the other leg the same way several feet to the side of the first leg, depending upon the width of the roof and the ice dam. If necessary, wrap garden rake tines with a towel and use the rake end to maneuver the legs into the correct position.

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