As Minnesotans, we’re often confident in our DIY abilities. Aaaaaaaand we like to save money whenever possible. But despite the impressive gizmos and “hacks” that are advertised this time of year, none of these popular tips are safe or cost effective for your home.
Chop it off with a chainsaw
A very Rambo move. But 100% unsafe. If you thought thick ice was slick on level ground, it’s practically a ski jump on even gently sloped roofs. Unless you want to file an insurance claim for a trip to the emergency room after falling one or more stories, don’t climb onto your roof with any sort of tool to remove the ice dam.
Pour chemicals on it
Seems smart. Ice melt chemicals work on sidewalks and driveways to clear even the densest patches of ice. But that’s exactly what they’re rated for: surfaces like concrete and asphalt. What you don’t want is to pour those chemicals on your shingles and have them dissolve or damage the roofing layers underneath.
Suddenly you’ll be calling us for winter roof repairs, and you’ll still have an ice dam to deal with.
Blast it with a heater
Again, seems smart. But it’s still dangerous (and ineffective) for the same reasons as the first two hacks. For starters, you’ll have to get on the roof. And for finishers, the external heat can damage your roofing layers, weakening them and leading to damage or repairs later.
Install heating cables
These gizmos look super nifty. Bolt the cable to your roof, run electricity through it, keep your eaves clear all winter long. Unfortunately, these are very hard on your roof and shorten its lifespan. Meaning the money you invested to cover a huge portion of your home is being thrown out the window, along with the prices you pay for running a heating cable over 6 months.
What’s a homeowner to do?
Genuinely, the safest and most cost-effective way is to have a professional roofing team like us come remove your ice dam using steam. Our method produces less water runoff, removes ice faster, and leaves you with an overall cleaner result.
Why cause extra damage to your roof when you’ve already got an ice dam to remove?