Give ice dams the boot with these removal methods
Icicles are beautiful to look at, but they can easily break off your roof and transform into a dangerous projectile. It turns out, icicles are only one of the consequences of ice dams. These ice dams form on your roof during winter due to snowfall and the freeze/thaw cycle. If left unchecked, ice dams can damage your roof, gutters, shingles, insulation, and even drywall.
While it is nearly impossible to prevent ice dams completely, there are some steps you can take to remove them safely. Roof melt tablets are one of the most popular solutions, otherwise known as ice melts or roof melt pucks. Roof melt tablets offer an economical alternative to hiring a snow removal specialist, but just how effective are they, and can they cause damage of their own? Here are some pros and cons to consider before using ice melts to prevent and dissolve an ice dam.
The types of chemicals included in ice melts vary by manufacturer, but they almost always feature calcium chloride and salt in one form or another. These chemicals work in conjunction to lower the freezing point of water. Once applied to a patch of snow, the tablets melt any lingering ice, allowing it to fall from your roof before it freezes into a dam.
There are significant advantages to using ice melts, as they, well, melt ice. Here are some of the positive aspects of using your favorite roof melt tablet to clear away ice and snow.
As the name suggests, ice melt tablets put the kibosh on ice dams, icicles, snow buildup, and various patches of ice on a roof. Using roof melts leads to increased safety throughout your property, as icicles won’t endanger anyone, and you’ll find fewer spots of ice on the ground directly beneath your roof. Instead, you’ll find piles of salt, which decreases the likelihood that anyone will trip or fall.
Ice dams are not just a safety hazard. They can also lead to long-term damage to the various components that make up your roof. If left untreated, ice dams can tear off gutters, loosen shingles, cause water to back up and drain into your home, and damage your roofing insulation. And ice dam removal costs can add a strain to the monthly budget. Not only can roof melt products clear your roof before ice dams wreak serious havoc, but they can also save you money in the long run by avoiding expensive repairs.
You can usually buy a pack of 60 roof melt tablets for around $25 to $30, whereas the cost to have a pro remove an ice dam from your roof is around $100 or more in some cases. A container of 60 tablets should last you through the winter, although that depends on their efficacy and the severity of the season’s weather.
Ice melts are pretty versatile, and many homeowners use them on driveways, gutters, sidewalks, and other parts of the property that experience a buildup of ice during the winter. In other words, many of these products are not just for roofs.
Additionally, roof melt tablets are pretty easy to use, especially when compared to roof rakes and other tools used to clear ice and snow from overhead. Directions may vary depending on the brand, but you typically throw a few roof melt tablets on the roof before it snows and occasionally one or two more during snowfall. That’s it, though you should remember to sweep up any errant salt that accumulates on the ground under the roof.
However, it’s not all sunshine and roses in the world of ice melt tablets, as using them does carry a certain level of risk to some homeowners. Here are some of the cons to keep in mind when it comes to roof melt tablets.
If roof melt tablets include rock salt, they could damage your shingles, which could lead to expensive roof repairs in the future. Additionally, some ice melt formulas can damage metal when used in large doses. If you have a shingle roof, stick to melts made from calcium chloride and avoid rock salt. If you have a good amount of metal on your roof, avoid products made from sodium chloride.
Some ice melts use harsh chemicals in addition to salt, which can be harmful to animals, including your pets. When an animal ingests these tablets, the increased salt intake can lead to mouth ulcerations, tremors, and seizures. Additionally, walking over these tablets can irritate an animal’s paws. If you have pets, look for a pet-friendly formulation made from urea or magnesium chloride. These are the two safest formulations for animals, but they could still cause an upset stomach if ingested.
Unfortunately, roof melt tablets can kill grass, trees, and shrubs with impunity, and you won’t notice the damage until spring. Many of the active chemicals found in these tablets kill greenery at the root. If your yard features an abundance of flora, avoid ice melts made from sodium chloride and potassium chloride. Instead, stick to melts made from calcium chloride and urea. Also, be sure to scoop up extra salt as soon as possible to prevent it from seeping into the soil and causing damage to plants.
It can be frustrating to find the right ice melt tablet, as they come in multiple variations, each intended for different temperature ranges and with its own set of risk factors. For instance, some melts won’t work when the temperature is below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, while others will only work in extreme temperatures that are well below that threshold. Some tablets will not work in thick buildups of snow, and others can take a long time before activation. Take some time to research each brand thoroughly to ensure you find the right roof melt tablets for your home.
While ice melt tablets provide a convenient and easy way to remove ice and ice dams from your roof, there are a few other effective ways to remove ice and snow from your roof.
Knowing how much snow your roof can hold will help you know when it’s time to bust out the roof rake. A roof rake is specially designed with a very long handle to allow you to remove snow from your roof while standing on the ground. These come in especially handy after a very heavy snowfall when you need to remove snow quickly to avoid cave-ins or other issues like ice dams as the snow melts and refreezes.
You can install heating cables for roofs and gutters on the edge of your roof and in your gutters to help melt snow and ice before it becomes a problem. Many of these cables are self-regulating, so they’ll adjust their temperature to efficiently melt snow and ice.
Snow guards prevent snow from sliding off the roof in large chunks, creating a snow avalanche that can be incredibly dangerous for any people or property that happens to be under the roof when it happens. Snow guards are available as individual units installed in a staggered pattern or as long bars that span the length of the roof.
While you can’t technically melt ice dams from the inside of your house, proper attic insulation can help avoid them in the first place. If the attic is improperly insulated, more heat will escape the home through the roof and melt the snow and ice that’s up there, often creating melted patches that make it easy to see where insulation is inadequate. As the snow and ice melts and freezes, ice dams form. Properly insulating an attic can help the snow and ice melt in a more uniform way and reduce the likelihood of an ice dam.
A snow removal pro near you can remove ice dams and snow from your roof in a safe and effective way. Preventative snow removal can also reduce the likelihood of ice dams forming and reduce the risk of dealing with roof replacement costs down the road.
Lawrence Bonk contributed to this piece.
