How to Take Ice Off of Roofs

Evaluate the ice, the damage it is causing and the risk it poses. If the ice is extremely thick, you might damage your roof if you try to remove it.

Pull snow off the roof before it solidifies into a solid ice dam ridge on the front edge of the roof. Use a push broom to sweep off the roof wherever you can reach it, but be careful to not sweep too hard when the snow level is low or you could damage your shingles.

Buy a roof rake and use it to pull more snow and ice off the roof if you can't get it clean with a simple push broom.

Chip a channel in the ice on the roof with a chisel or ice chipper. Water building up against an ice dam during a melt is what causes damage to your roof and house, not the ice itself. Carve a channel in the ice dam so that during warmer days, the water has somewhere to flow other than backing up into your house.

Use a roof or ice-melt product only as a last resort. These products have varying instructions and compositions but are essentially a combination of chemicals designed to melt the ice on the roof. Do not use these products before clearing a channel in the ice dam or all the water from the melted ice will just run into your house. Be aware that some of these products can damage roofing, so make sure to read the label carefully.