Although sometimes long
lasting and bitter, wintertime in NY is rather picturesque. Just imagine the
old farm house blanketed in white snow and lined with icicles — it looks
beautiful to a passerby, but as the homeowner, you know you’ve got a lot of
work to do to ensure safety.
Depending on both the
angle and material of your roof you may accumulate mounds of snow and icicles
around the edges. Removing the snow and ice is incredibly important for both
your safety and anyone else who may be entering or exiting your home. The last
thing you want is your mailman to be struck or impaled by an icicle you hadn’t
yet removed. Not to mention, icicles are a sign of poor water runoff, likely
from an ice dam which could result in trapped water causing roof or wall damage
to your home. As you can see, you’ll want to remove the ice dam as quickly as
possible. Follow these steps to do so safely:
- Always have a spotter or second person nearby as you’ll likely
need a ladder. You’ll also want to warn those Inside the home to avoid the
windows and walking outside at this time as ice may be falling. You’ll
need to start by removing snow from the roof using a roof rake. Avoid
using a shovel or brush as these tools may cause damage to the roofing
material. You’ll want all of the snow 3-4 feet up from the gutter removed.
- Once the snow has been removed from the roof you’ll want to take
tarps and cover any plants or shrubbery below the gutters. This will help
protect them from falling ice and the ice melt chemical.
- Next you’ll take a nylon stocking and fill it with ice melt
(calcium chloride) which you can likely find at your local hardware store.
Make sure you don’t accidentally use sodium chloride as it can melt or
damage your roof or gutters. Next take the filled stocking and place it
atop the ice-filled gutter.
- The calcium chloride will melt the ice in the gutter, creating a
channel and the icicles will fall off and your water runoff will be
restored.
You’ll want to remember,
however, that this is purely a temporary solution. The main reason your home is
forming ice dams is because the house is not air tight with proper ventilation.
The key to preventing ice dams is keep your roof cool, which means proper insulation in your attic.
Keep a close eye on your
home this winter to notice any forming ice dams and remove them quickly before
they result in potential internal and external damage to your home. Whenever
you can- have your home inspected for insulation weaknesses, as this will
prevent future ice dams.
