How to Fix Ice Damming When You Have Gutter Covers

Ice dams can cause serious damage to your roof if left untreated.

Gutter covers can prevent a lot of problems by keeping large debris from building up in your gutters and gutter spout. Unfortunately, they are not fail-safe when it comes to ice dams. Ice dams result from poor roof insulation and even well guarded gutters can become victims. You can prevent ice dams by insulating and preparing your roof, but no technique will help you once an ice dam forms. Your best bet is to take care of the problem with a temporary solution and then take precautions to prevent the problem from occurring in the future.

Things You'll Need

• Organic ice melter
• Panty hose

Instructions

Temporary Solution

1. Cut the leg off of a pair of panty hose.

2. Fill the panty hose leg with organic ice-melting crystals. Calcium chloride and salt will also work but can have harmful effects on both your roof and the soil surrounding your house.

3. Tie a knot at the open end of the panty hose leg to prevent the ice-melting crystals from escaping.

4. Place the filled panty hose leg on your roof, vertically, so the end of the tube overhangs your gutter just slightly. The tube will melt ice and allow proper drain-off into your gutter.

Permanent Solution

1. Observe your roof during the winter. The points on your roof where you see ice and snow melting correspond to points within your attic or roof that need further insulation. Take note of them.

2. Insulate your roof. Use roofing sealant to seal cracks between roofing materials and foam to insulate the inner surface of your roof.

3. Clean your gutters and downspouts at least once a year, even if you have gutter covers. Small particles can slip past gutter covers and clog your downspout or gutter.

4. Keep your downspout free of obstruction by removing nearby plants or garden ornaments that could interfere with the flow of the downspout.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a rake or other long-handled garden tool to push the panty hose tube onto your roof.

• If your gutter is clogged with ice -- not debris -- pour a little hot water down the downspout before using the method described in Section 1.

• Non-organic ice-melters or ice-melters containing salt can cause further damage to your roof or the soil surrounding your house, and could cause problems in water and septic lines. Use organic ice-melters if you can.

• Do not climb onto your roof when it is covered with ice or snow.

References

• Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation: Attic Venting, Attic Moisture and Ice Dams
• UMassAmherst; Preventing Ice Dams; Paul Fisette; February 2011
• Do It Yourself Insulation Facts; Prevent Ice Dam Damage With Gutter Covers; Sock Woodruff; February 2011
• DIY Life; Prevent Ice Dams from Forming on Your Roof; Diane Rixon; January 2010
• "This Old House"; Quick Ice Dam Cure; Roy Barnhart

Resources

• Natural Alternative - Ice Melt: Ice Melt Frequently Asked Questions
• Xynyth: Mountain Organic Natural Ice Melter