Ice dams removal: how a professional does it and what to ask
Removing the ice is the easy part to describe and the hard part to do safely. Here is what a good crew does and how to vet one.
Ice dams removal is a job for a crew with fall protection and the right equipment. It is not a weekend task. The ice sits on a sloped, slick edge, and the shingles under it are easy to damage. This page explains how the pros do it, so you can hire the right one and spot a bad one.
What a good crew actually does
The standard method is low-pressure steam. A worker melts channels through the ice, working from the bottom of the dam up. Steam is gentle on shingles. It does not pry, chip or pound.
The crew is clipped in with a harness and rope. That is the whole point of paying for it. You are buying the safety system as much as the labor.
Questions to ask before you book
A short phone call tells you a lot. Ask these:
- Do you use steam, or do you chip and scrape?
- How do your workers tie off on the roof?
- Are you licensed and insured in my state?
- Will you tell me where the water was getting in?
Walk away from anyone who says they will "knock it off with a mallet." That is how shingle tabs get torn.
What you can do while you wait
Stay on the ground. Take photos of the ice from the lawn, and note where water drips from the eave. If a roof rake with a long handle is already in your shed, pulling snow off the lowest few feet from the ground can slow new ice. It does not remove a dam that is already there.
Inside, protect the floor and move belongings from under any drip. Our page on ice dam leaks covers that part.
Why we stop here and do not write the steps
Plenty of guides walk you through the climb. We will not. Falling from an iced roof edge is a real way to get badly hurt, and a ladder on frozen ground is no safer. Seeing the problem from the ground is enough for you to decide who to call.
Removal does not fix the cause
Once the ice is gone, the cause is still there. Warm air leaks into the attic, melts the snow above, and the water refreezes at the eave. If a crew clears the dam and nobody looks at the attic, expect it back next storm.
The lasting fix is air sealing, continuous insulation and working ventilation, covered in preventing ice dams. Treat removal as a one-off patch, not a plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is steam the best way of removing an ice dam?
It is the method roofers favor because it melts ice without hammering the shingles. Ask any contractor how they do it before you book.
Can I remove an ice dam myself?
We do not give steps for it. The work happens on an icy slope at the roof edge, where falls happen. From the ground you can photograph the dam and rake the lowest snow.
Will removing the dam stop the leak for good?
No. It stops the backed-up water for now. The leak returns when conditions repeat unless the attic heat loss is fixed.
When is an ice dam an emergency?
When water is coming through a ceiling or a wall. Contain it inside the house and call a roofing contractor.
Sources
What this page explains is based on these official sources. If you check one and it does not match what you read here, send it to us and the article gets corrected.
- NOAA / National Weather Service. Winter — National Weather Service safety hub
- NOAA / National Weather Service. What To Do If You're Caught in a Winter Storm