How to Melt Snow on Rooftops

Once winter arrives, your roof likely will become the victim of invasive snow. A small amount of snow isn’t a cause for a concern, but once a couple of inches turn into several inches, you need to find a way to remove the snow from your roof. Climbing on top of your roof in winter is dangerous, so the best option is to melt the snow and have the subsequent water drain off of your roof.

Roof heating cables
Chlorine tablets
Rock salt

Instructions

- 1
  Lay heating cables along your roof and gutters. Manufactured heating cables come with a control that you can use to toggle the cables on and off. Once turned on, they will work to melt the snow from your roof. You must lay the cables prior to the snow accumulating on your roof.
- 2
  Toss pool chlorine tablets on your roof. Once the tablets come into contact with snow, they will melt the snow and the water will drain off of your roof. You likely will need several tablets, depending on the size of your roof.
- 3
  Spread rock salt along the edge of your roof after the snow melts. Doing so prevents ice dams, which can cause significant water damage to your home. Tom Silva from “This Old House” warns that the rock salt will stain your roof, so you must remove it once winter ends.

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