How to Get Rid of Icicles on the Back Deck

Icicles form when dripping water freezes.

Icicles may look beautiful and add a festive touch to the outside of your home during winter, but they can be dangerous in more ways than one. Besides the risk of them falling and landing on a motor vehicle, person or pet, the icicles can pose a risk because they add a lot of weight to the home and can damage gutters and other building parts. If you have icicles on your back deck and wish to get rid of them, you can use a simple technique to knock them down.

Things You'll Need

• Ladder
• Hammer

Instructions

1. Set a ladder on the side of the back deck. Verify that it is secure and won't slide.

2. Climb up the ladder, and knock down all reachable icicles by using a hammer.

3. Climb down the ladder, and move it under the area you just cleared of icicles. Climb back up the ladder, and knock down the next section of reachable icicles with the hammer.

4. Knock remaining icicles off the back deck using the same section-by-section method, moving the ladder as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Because this task can be extremely dangerous, enlisting a friend to hold the ladder can help you avoid serious personal injury.

• Do not attempt to lean away from the ladder while you knock down the icicles.

References

• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.: Removing Ice on Roofs
• Lincoln Journal Star; Icicles Can Mean Problems