Ice Dams
 

Scored this morning on calcium chloride ice melt at BJ's copped four 50lb buckets.

What methods and application are recommended for ice dams removal?

Better to cut a channel for water to escape than remove. Removing ice dams = removing shingles or gutters. I did break off the giant icicles to relieve the weight in a few spots, usually these formed where two roof lines met. two Falls ago I reinsulated and noticed that portion of the house was "ok" The problem area is over the roof that I could not re-insulate (vaulted ceiling / no attic space)

fill panty hose with the calc. chloride and lay across the ice dams parallel with gutters.

do not use rock salt because it will deteriorate the tar in your shingles

Thanks

L82 or anyone, I am not to clear on your post. The "channel" you described would that be perpendicular to the gutter? I can visualize the roof water flowing down the roof thru the channel, thru the dam to over the edge.

You also describe the sock parallel to the gutter, would that be at the end of the day just above the gutter or did you mean parallel to the gutter or greeting both a perpendicular channel and melting the dam height level vertically above the gutter.
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Yes the channel would be perpendicular to the gutter.

The ice dam forms that little ridge blocking water from running off the roof... And instead continue to build up ice. As the ice dam continues to form it climbs up the roof, not much, but it is this backup that allows water to travel under the shingles where it either freezes or melts. This is why the last 6-8' of your plywood roof gets the ice dam paper and not the entire roof.

To go along with that, I've seen some house where people remove only the snow in the first (lower) section of the roof. What they don't realize is the ice dam now form at the edge of the shoveled snow where there is no under shingle protection.

So, what I do is chip out some areas for melting snow to escape, and place a calc. Chloride filled panty hose at that point to keep it open. The calc chloride will eventually reopen room at the base of the gutters and water will begin to once again travel through the gutters properly. The calc chlrd socks may need to be replenished if, like this winter, it remains so cold
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Be careful chipping away the ice dams ... Don't push it or you'll be doing more fixing in the spring than necessary

A heat gun is the safest way to make a channel

gonna be 41 degrees for a while.... that'll help

i ran an electric heat cable on the roof edge $60 @ HD
zig zaging up and down but it has a difficult time
when it's below zero.

Just came of the ladder...

They should be called ice DAMN
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I scored a bucket of the ice dam pucks that you toss up on the roof. My mother had major leaks last week. She got up on a ladder and put a line of them across the dams every 4' and they made the channel worked like a charm. I just laid a bunch around my house. See how it works.

I have been throwing loose calcium chloride at and above the dams I could not reach. A lot of it. Just to get as much of the water pressure released. I was also using a chipping hammer to knock them down fast. Practiced on my house before using on jobs. Ten times faster than dead blow and chisel/screwdriver. I cringe when I see folks using an axe or hatchet. No control. And please don't try to chip away over your head.... I have had 40-60 lb pieces come loose, and you can't deflect them if you are under them....

My air chisel and compressor , nothing better. Cleared 30' in half hour! Of course I've been using one for 20 years so I didn't hit my roof/gutters. If anyone wants to borrow it let me know. It eats ice for lunch!
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I have a hot/cold water hook up in my garage. I use hot water from hose to melt away dams-works great.
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That might be the best method right there, or even cold water.
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That's a great idea. Feed it into a power washer and it would work like a steam gun. I wonder if a garden hose from the drain on the hot water heater would do the same? Maybe burst the hose?

http://www.americanpressureinc.com/a...-solution.html

Low pressure steam gun
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Probably could drum up a lot of good business with that
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I just get on peak of roof, drink lots of beer, and pee away.
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Shh...don't tell him but I rolled my eyes at my husband when he started roof raking at the very first storm, thought he was overreacting back then. Sooooo glad he did and we have kept it up ever since or we would probably be in a world of misery and icicles right now....

Get a hose adapter for a faucet and crank out the hot water!
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sledgehammer.

Spring --> Summer

Take the calcium and put it In nylon stockings and staple it down it will control the.melt
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a hammer drill with a large masonry bit works real well too...it saves a lot of pounding and gives you more control...you can also make pockets for the C.C.

I put heat cables on my roof and in the gutters years ago... not only zig zagged, but in each down spout and across the gutter... I haven't had an issue since... prior.. every winter was a hastle if I didn't clear all the snow off the roof..as raven said.. they are not the be all end all when it's 0.. but anything above mid teens into the 20's and they do an amazing job

anyone with a good system of calcium chloride socks/channels please take some pics next time youre up on the ladder (safely ofcourse)