How to Make Ice Melt Stockings for Roof Problems

Ice dams along a roof's edge are a leading cause of roof leaks. Snow on the roof melts from the heat of the sun, but by the time the water reaches the edge of the roof it refreezes. The water soon creates a thick layer of ice, which then prevents any further water from going over the edge. The water then backs up under the roof shingles where it then enters the home. A homemade ice-melt stocking provides a channel for the ice to leave the roof and prevents these problems.

Thigh-length hosiery
Cord
Calcium chloride crystals

Instructions

- 1
  Unroll the hosiery on a stable working area. Cut away the crotch and panty area from the two legs and discard it.
- 2
  Hold open the top of the hosiery and pour approximately 1 pound of calcium chloride crystals into the leg.
- 3
  Tie off the top of the hose with a piece of cord or string to hold the crystals inside the hose.
- 4
  Stretch the hose out on the work area and evenly distribute the crystals from the toe to the top.
- 5
  Tie a cord tightly around the hose approximately every 6 inches to hold the crystals in place and prevent them from shifting to one end.
- 6
  Place the crystal-filled hose vertically on the roof (perpendicular to the edge of the roof) and directly on the ice, with the toe dangling over the edge of the roof. Ensure that the hose is not over a place where people walk such as a doorway, since icicles easily form around the hose.
- 7
  Inspect the ice melt stockings periodically to make sure they are still in place on the roof. Adjust their placement if necessary. The ice around the stocking will melt, providing a place for melting snow and ice higher on the roof to escape.

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