How to Melt Snow and Ice Off of the Roof

Remove as much snow as possible using a roof rake, a tool specifically designed for this task that generally has an extendable handle in order to cover a larger area on the roof. Focus on removing snow from on top of and a few feet above or behind the ice dam. This technique alone may adequately address snow load and ice dam concerns.

Apply electric deicing cables to the roof if there is a nearby source of electricity. Cables can either be draped along the edge primarily to relieve an ice dam or they can cover a larger area. To cover a large portion of the roof, take a long piece of lumber, pound nails into it at regular intervals and then loop the heating cables around the nails. The loop length should be determined by the amount of roof to be heated. Attach ropes to the ends of the boards, throw the ropes over the roof, then hoist the board with attached cables as high up the roof as desired by pulling on the ropes from the opposite side. The cables must extend beyond the roof edge to allow for drainage.

Apply a deicing compound. Use a deicer that will not damage the roofing materials. Avoid using corrosive compounds such as traditional rock salt, or sodium chloride. The deicer can be broadcast evenly to lighten the weight of the snow or applied in small piles behind an ice dam with a line of deicer stretching from each pile to the roof edge in order to cut a drainage path. Alternatively, fill nylon stockings with a deicing compound an lay these across ice dams.