Next up a list of long term fixes that will help you get rid of your ice dams for good.
Rock salt to melt ice dams on roof.
Melt troughs through the ice dam with calcium chloride ice melter.
A word of caution.
But if you ve let your ice dam fester for so long that you can t even get a credible ice dam company to help you because they re booked solid salt may help you emerge from your diy ice dam removal adventure as unscathed as possible.
The calcium chloride will eventually melt through the snow and ice and create a channel for water to flow down into the gutters or off the roof.
The roofmelt ice melt is designed to eliminate the need to climb onto roofs while melt snow.
Pantyhose a quick fix to melt ice dams this article.
Use roof melt tablets to reduce snow and ice buildup that occurs on your roof typically on the eaves and in gutters.
Removing the snow removes the water that forms ice.
The tablets help prevent roof damage by melting through ice dams and allowing water to drain safely.
It should be no surprise then that it is the first thing many people think of to remove ice dams.
However rock salt is a form of sodium chloride which corrodes metal including the metal nails holding your shingles in place.
While safely on the ground toss a roofmelt tablet onto the roof.
Emphasis on the as possible part.
Do not substitute rock salt for calcium chloride as rock salt can damage shingles and kill bushes and foliage beneath.
Preventing ice dam problems.
Permanent fixes for ice dams illustration by yuko shimizu.
It will damage paint metals and plants beneath the eave and wherever the salty water drains.
It will damage the roofing siding gutters and downspouts and the poisonous runoff will kill foundation plants.
A do not put salt on your roof.
Rock salt can also leave permanent stains on your roof and walls.
They work effectively in temperatures down to 25 f.
When you ve got icicles like those above it s time to figure out the best strategy for removing the snow from your roof.
A good trough maker is a tube of cloth a leg from an old pair of panty hose works well.
Sodium chloride or rock salt is highly corrosive.
Again for the most part you don t want to throw any type of ice melt product on your roof.
Removing snow from your roof.
Make sure the ice melt product you buy contains only.
Do not use rock salt.
Ask this old house general contractor tom silva explains the best ways to keep your roof and gutters free from those dreaded ice dams.
See below for a shopp.