How to Fix a Roof Ice Dam

Snow, snow and more snow. The temperature fluctuates up and down; the snow melts, then freezes, and more snow piles on top of your roof. While the resulting icicles may be pretty to look at, all that ice and snow along the perimeter of your roof edge is a problem waiting to happen. Water from melting snow and ice becomes dammed behind that low wall of ice, forcing its way up and under shingles. Because the melted water has no where else to go, it drips through the roof, damaging dry wall, wood and insulation and creating a potentially costly problem. Never fear--a cheap effective quick-fix is at hand, and it all starts with a pair of pantyhose.

Things You'll Need

• Pair of women's pantyhose
• Scissors
• Bag of calcium chloride (ice melt; do not use rock salt)
• Large-holed funnel
• Ladder
• Long-handled pole or roof rake (optional)

Instructions

1. Buy or borrow a pair of pantyhose, or use a pair of your own, and cut one of the legs off at about the knee using scissors. Place the large-holed funnel into the cut section of the pantyhose.

2. 

   Open the bag of calcium chloride ice melt, and carefully pour into the funnel. Do not substitute rock salt for the ice melt, as rock salt will discolor and possibly damage roof shingles. You'll have to shift the stocking as it fills. When you attain a log-size, ice-melt-filled stocking, securely tie off the cut end. Distribute and shift the ice melt evenly throughout the stocking. It'll feel something like handling a lifeless boa constrictor.

3. 

   Use either a ladder for placing the filled stocking on the ice dam area at the edge of your roof, or place and maneuver the filled stocking on the roof edge using a long pole or roof rake. If using a ladder, make certain the legs are secure, and position it on a nonicy surface. It's best to have a buddy to help steady the ladder and hand up the filled stocking, which can be rather heavy and ungainly to handle while climbing the rungs.

4. Position the filled stocking vertically on the roof over the problem ice dam area (see figure 2). As the ice melt begins to work, a channel forms in the ice, allowing the trapped melt water to run down and off the roof.

5. This is an effective quick-fix for an ice dam that is already in place. If your area receives more heavy snow afterward and you're faced with the same problem, you'll have to refill the stocking with ice melt (or more probably use the other leg of the pantyhose to make a new ice-melt stocking) and repeat Steps 3 and 4. The used stocking will be limp with moisture, and the ice melt inside it will have melted along with the stubborn ice.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use extreme caution when climbing a ladder in the winter. Never place a ladder on snowy, icy ground or decks. Make sure someone is nearby, holding onto the ladder and supporting it while you climb.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish