Dam Remedy for a Leaky Roof Caused by Ice

Manual Removal

• One of the best ways to prevent ice dam formation and reduce the continued growth of an existing dam or water pool is simply manual removal. Use a snow rake specifically designed for the task, or a push broom, to remove as much snow and ice from near the roof's edge. Be sure to stand to the side when removing snow from the roof in this manner.

Electric Heating Cables

• Electric heating cables can be strategically placed so that they drape over the roof's edge and create drainage paths through the ice dam. This method will only work if there is an electrical outlet nearby. One easy way to place cables across the dam is to attach loops of cables to a long board. Tie ropes to the board, then throw the ropes over the roof. From the other side of the roof, pull the ropes until the board is above the dam but the loops still extend slightly beyond the roof edge.

Hot Water

• A temporary solution to water buildup behind an ice dam is to hose a channel through the dam with warm tap water. On a warm day, work upward from the lower edge of the dam and use the hot water to cut a path. This channel will generally only last for a few days, so this method is most suitable as a quick fix.

Deicing Chemicals

• Well-placed deicing compounds can melt channels through the ice dam. Place small piles of deicing compounds just above the dam every few feet. Another method of deicing compound placement incorporates filling a leg from an old pair of pantyhose with deicer and laying it across the dam. Avoid using corrosive deiciers like sodium or calcium chloride and instead utilize safer materials like calcium magnesium acetate, potassium chloride or urea to treat ice dams on roofs.

Long-Term Treatment

• The best way to prevent ice dam formation is to reduce the attic and roof temperature and ensure that the roof has a uniform temperature. Insulate the roof and celing so that warm air from the home interior does not heat the roof and cause snow melt. Adequate ventilation in the roof will also allow a flow of cold air under the roof surface and keep the roof cool.