Ice Dam Help

[MarkB]

Originally Posted by Rockfish9

I have electric heat wires on the roof and in the gutters.. i rake after every snow fall... I have the only house on the street with out ice dams....

the reason for CaCl is because it relies on a chemicle reaction to work ( just add water) rock salt requires help from the sun and warmer temps...

My lawn is crab grass.... i couldnt kill it if I wanted to...

Rock salt is Sodium Chloride - NaCl. Calcium Chloride is CaCl2. When NaCl dissolves, there are two ions - one of Na and one of Cl. When CaCl2 dissolves, there are three ions, one of Ca and two of Cl. That's why Calcium Chloride works better. Both are chemical reactions - they lower the temperature at which water freezes - so they cause ice to melt as long it the temperature is above the new freezing temp.