How to Remove a Snow Dam

Examine the roof to identify where the snow is piling up. Some parts of the roof may be more susceptible to ice dams.

Locate an area on the ground where you can position a ladder. If the building is one story, you can probably get by with a step ladder. If the building is two or more stories, you will have to use an extension ladder. Find a spot that is free of ice so the legs do not slip.

Pull the snow off the roof using the roof rake. Pull down the slope of the roof rather than across the roofline. It is easy to break cold, brittle shingles if you pull the rake across them. It's also easy to fall off a ladder, so go slow and take small "bites" out of the snow.

Take the hammer and chisel and chip a channel into the ice dam from the top of the dam to the bottom. This channel will give the melted water an avenue to flow out and off the roof. Avoid digging into the shingles as this will damage the roof. Wear the safety glasses, as shards of ice can be dangerous. It is usually not necessary to remove the entire ice dam; just provide an outlet for the water that actually does the damage.

Examine the ice dam and roof regularly. If the dam continues to build up, or you start to get water leaking into the building, you may need to completely remove the dam. This can be done using a pressurized steam machine that shoots hot steam at the dam and melts the ice away. This is a dramatic and expensive option, so only do it if other measures don't solve the problem.