Removing ice dams: the methods people try, ranked by risk
Every method for removing ice dams has a cost. Here they are, from least risky to most.
The honest answer on removing ice dams is that the safest methods remove the least ice. The methods that remove the most are the ones that hurt people and roofs. Here is the full list, lowest risk first.
Doing nothing, and watching
If no water is entering the house, this is a real option. Photograph the dam from the yard and check the ceilings along the outside walls. Dry ceilings and dry attic insulation mean you can wait for a thaw.
Raking the lowest snow from the ground
A long-handled roof rake, used while you stand on the lawn, pulls snow off the lowest few feet of the roof. It does not remove a dam. It takes away the snow that would feed one. Keep the blade off the shingles and never pull hard on a stuck patch.
Steam from a professional crew
Low-pressure steam melts ice without striking the shingles. It is the method roofers use, and it is the one we point you to. The crew works at the roof edge with fall protection. You do not have that, and that is the whole reason to hire them.
Ask how they will protect the shingles, whether they carry liability coverage, and whether they are licensed where you live. Our page on how a professional removes ice dams lists the questions.
Chipping, salt and hot water: the ones to skip
Chipping tears granules and shingle tabs off with the ice. Rock salt pits metal and kills plants below. Hot water refreezes lower on the roof and builds a bigger dam. All three also put you on or beside an icy slope, so we do not publish steps for them.
Why removal is never the fix
An ice dam is a heat problem. Warm attic air melts snow mid-slope and the water refreezes at the cold eave. Taking the ice off leaves that cause untouched, and the dam returns with the next storm.
The lasting fix is air sealing the attic floor, continuous insulation and a cold roof deck. Start with what causes ice dams and plan the work for summer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the safest way of removing ice dams?
From the ground, only raking the lowest snow is safe, and it does not remove the dam. For the ice itself, hire a crew that uses low-pressure steam and works with fall protection.
Is it ever worth removing ice dams yourself?
Not from the roof. If water is not entering the house, waiting is usually fine. If it is, call a professional rather than climbing up.
Will removing ice dams stop them returning?
No. They return until you fix attic heat loss, air leaks and ventilation. Removal only clears this winter's ice.
Does calcium chloride work for removing ice dams?
It can melt a channel, but placing it means working on the roof edge. We do not give steps for that, and it can stain and corrode what it runs over.
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