How to Remove Ice Dams Safely

Should you remove an ice dam?

If the dam is large or water is leaking into your home, yes — act promptly, because the trapped water is what causes damage. A small amount of edge ice with no leaking can sometimes be monitored, but any interior water stains mean it is time to intervene. The key word is safely: most ice-dam injuries and roof damage come from aggressive do-it-yourself removal, not from the dam itself. Remove the snow that feeds it and open a drainage path, rather than trying to hack the whole dam off.

How to remove an ice dam yourself (from the ground)

Two ground-level methods are safe and effective. First, use a roof rake — a long-handled tool — to pull the snow off the lower few feet of the roof while standing on the ground; removing the snow removes the fuel that feeds the dam. Second, fill a fabric sleeve or a leg of old pantyhose with calcium chloride ice melt and lay it vertically across the dam so it melts a channel for water to drain through. Both let you relieve the dam without ever getting on the roof, which is exactly the point.

What NOT to do

Do not chip, hammer, chisel, or use an axe or shovel on the ice — you will gouge the roof, break shingles, and can hurt yourself, and it rarely works anyway. Do not climb onto an icy, snow-covered roof or lean a ladder against ice-loaded gutters; falls are the biggest ice-dam danger. Do not use rock salt (sodium chloride) — it corrodes metal and gutters and kills the plants below; use calcium chloride instead. And be cautious knocking down large icicles, since falling ice can injure you — clear the area below and keep your distance.

When to call a professional

Call a pro when the dam is large, water is actively leaking inside, or the roof is steep, high, or unsafe to reach even from the ground. Experienced ice-dam removal crews use low-pressure steam, which melts the ice away without damaging the roof — unlike a pressure washer or hot water, which can. Removal cost varies with the size of the job and your area, so get a couple of quotes. Most importantly, once the emergency is handled, fix the root cause with attic air sealing, insulation, and ventilation so the dams do not return.

Step by step

1. Stay on the ground — do not climb an icy or snow-loaded roof.
2. Use a roof rake to pull snow off the lower few feet of the roof, removing the dam's fuel.
3. Fill a fabric sleeve or pantyhose leg with calcium chloride ice melt (never rock salt).
4. Lay the sleeve vertically across the dam to melt a channel for meltwater to drain.
5. Never chip, hammer, or axe the ice, and do not stand under large icicles.
6. For active leaks, large dams, or steep/high roofs, call a pro to steam the dam off.
7. After the emergency, fix the root cause with attic air sealing, insulation, and ventilation.