* Always Use Hand Tools to Remove an Ice Dam - Never Torches or Hot Water
In part 1 of this article on ice-dams, we discussed how cleaning your gutters can make a big difference in preventing ice dams and flow blockage. We also discussed how in the past, contractors would recommend removing the gutters to get rid of the ice-dam, but in this sense, you may be robbing Peter to pay Paul – removing the gutters will only cause damage to your foundation and will cause you a bigger headache in the future.
But if you have an ice-dam, what should you do? First, using extreme caution, you should remove as much of the blockage as you can. Remember of course to NEVER walk on a roof that is covered in snow or ice, but using a ladder, you can get to a place where you can chiop away the dam and begin to remove it. (Or of course you can call a professional gutter contractor to do this, which may be safer). If you have water coming in your home because of the dam, removing the dam will actually stop the water flow (until another one forms). Do not use hot water to remove the dam, either, as that will only cause more damage to your roof and walls. Instead, use a rake or broom, remove the snow and ice and then carefully chip away at the ice until you can create a clear channel or valley through the ice through which water can leave the roof. Be sure not to chip into your shingles or damage the roof any further while you are doing this.
You will not need to remove all the ice, just create an outlet through which additional water can escape, and bear in mind that in order to keep your home dry, you may need to do this daily as temperatures fluctuate throughout the winter.
The most important question though, is not how to remove the ice-dam, it is how to prevent them or prevent another one from forming. The ice dams, as we discussed in part one, are formed because heat is getting out through your attic and creating warm and cold patches on your roof. If you have proper insulation and ventilation in your attic, though, this will not occur.
Roof ventilation is very important in the winter months. If you have a poor ventilation system it will cause condensation to build up inside your attic due to the warm air from appliances and showers, humidifiers and so on.
If you recently changed the insulation, but not the ventilation, then that could be the problem. If you have done both, then the insulation may not be properly installed. A good way to ensure that your insulation is installed properly or working properly is when there is a substantial snowfall, if a lot of snow slides off your roof, your roof is getting heat from inside your home, which you do not want.
Read Part Three Tomorrow on How to Solve the Ice Dam Problem Forever!
*Image courtesy of http://www.negutterkings.com
