How to Melt Snow From Inside the Roof of an Attic

Turn off any heating vents in the attic to bring down the temperature.

Position a box fan so it points toward leakage areas inside the attic roof. Turn the fan onto the highest setting and allow it to run for 15 to 60 minutes to freeze snow and ice melt. Turn off the fan.

Remove as much snow as possible from your roof, gently scraping it off with an aluminum garden rake. If a ladder is needed to reach the area of concern, enlist the help of someone else to keep the ladder secure in the snow and ice. Carefully position your ladder at the highest point you want to clear and draw it downward. Continue this process to clear as much snow as necessary.

Cut six pairs of old nylons above the knees.

Fill a bucket with 1/2-pound of play sand and 1/2-pound of magnesium chloride. Mix the two ingredients together with a large spoon or scoop.

Scoop the magnesium chloride and sand mixture into the 12 cut-off nylon legs, leaving 4 to 5 inches free at the top of each nylon. Knot the nylons to prevent leakage.

Place de-icing nylons on the roof. Position nylons vertically in and around holes or damaged areas on the rooftop that have led to snow inside the attic roof. Place other de-icing nylons perpendicular to the gutter to melt any ice dams. The vertical position of the de-icing nylons helps form channels for melting snow and ice to drain down the rooftop.