DIY: Draining ice dams on your roof

[@bozzyham]

1 Month update and I have done this 3 times now and it's worked phenomenally...

[@mrmicro22]

Tie a string to it and you can toss it and position it from the ground. Can also retrieve from the ground.

[@YoshimoshiGarage]

Probably a lot more sane than my ladder work, though this one is pretty high up.

[@wenn789]

I modify an extension of a roof rake, using part of a wire hanger as a hook, duct taped on. Then I can add extensions as needed to place it where I want.

[@rjsophia3712]

We just put up a bunch - bad winter in the snow belt of NE Ohio this year. I bought knee high stockings at Walmart and tied long string into the knot. They work fantastic. Contractors forgot to reposition the attic insulation they moved to redo a shower and exhaust fan. I’ve never had icicles on my house before. I’ll make sure I never do never again!

[@AMC-eq3jr]

Ice dams mean you have heat coming from the inside the house. Solution is insulation to stop from melting the snow.

[@bozzyham]

Icedams really bad this year, about to try this asap

[@mikedv7954]

Use BTV-CT Raychem Self regulating heating cable. You will never have to worry about ice build up

[@YoshimoshiGarage]

Definitely a good idea, but you need to do that before the snow arrives.

[@dlebreton7888]

More insulation might help the ice problem.

[@damnimcooltom1]

What do I torque the knot on the stocking to? Like, how many "foot pounds"?

[@YoshimoshiGarage]

42. Duh.

[@damnimcooltom1]

Strange. I was watching The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy earlier today. It really IS the answer to life, the universe, and everything.

[@skabettispaghetti5451]

Thank you. I live in MN, and just found this, as I had drips in the sunroom. Do you recommend roof cables in problem areas like this?

[@YoshimoshiGarage]

Heat cables in the gutter is definitely a better long-term solution

[@mr_anderson143]

Why not just put a bunch of these on roof/gutters before winter to prevent the problem vs after the ice forms? I live in CA so not familiar with this issue.

[@YoshimoshiGarage]

Rain and snow would dissolve the salt, and salt can be hard on a roof, so using it to only clear ice dams helps the roof last longer.

[@MattTee1234]

Great idea! Thanks!

[@qkranarchist3015]

Brilliant!! Thank you!

[@chadtellevik5479]

Thanks

[@marcclement7396]

As a young man I used to clear ice dams. You can't charge enough to do that work. One of the most dangerous jobs going. I hope you young fellas are slapping your customers with big bills.

[@YoshimoshiGarage]

Man, I wish I was a young fella! This wouldn't have felt so sketchy then - or at least I would have had less sense of self-preservation.

[@edbreyette7190]

$75 an hour and that’s cheap.

[@toddfromwork8931]

How did you do it most of the time?

[@stevensobba1785]

Neighbor told me his quote was $750 hour, minimum 2 hours wichita,ks 🫣

[@mannydodge8534]

Same problem here this year in Eastern WA. Ice dam leaked water onto my ceiling. Took us 3 hrs to take off snow on roof. I put couple of stockings but I need few more.

[@acemarcola]

Ladder stabilizers, standoffs , unless your life isn’t worth $40 , stay safe and live a long life 👍

[@marcclement7396]

Agreed. Have a helper along too in case something happens. This is dangerous work and I hope you are giving your customers big bills!

[@ANXIETOR]

I’d like to see it 2 hours later, to see if it works.

[@YoshimoshiGarage]

It definitely worked. I did it a year ago, so I don't have any "after" shots

[@ANXIETOR]

@@YoshimoshiGarage I'm filling tube socks right now.

[@gladebrosi6587]

I tried it and it hasn’t worked in 2 days so far

[@YoshimoshiGarage]

Really? I'm surprised, mine drained in about an hour.

[@gladebrosi6587]

@@YoshimoshiGarage maybe it’s temperature related. Highs have been about 31 and lows in the 20s. So many people have sworn by this and nothing so far for me

[@freedommakers101]

Why not use hot water or steamer?

[@YoshimoshiGarage]

It's 2 stories up, and it would take well over 100 gallons of hot water to try to do that gutter length. 100 gallons that would turn to ice on the ground

[@freedommakers101]

@YoshimoshiGarage your certainly right

[@guiilleleon]

Como se llama el producto

[@marywegrzyn506]

Rock Salt Sock

[@virginiadeloose3202]

Tie a string around stocking and stand on ground and toss onto roof pull string to get it in place. Then come Spring pull stocking sown.

[@freedommakers101]

Salt damages shingles and voids your warranty

[@YoshimoshiGarage]

Yeah, it's definitely best to leave the ice dams. They are great for shingles and gutters. 🙄

[@freedommakers101]

Appreciate the cheeky sarcasm. Who said to leave it? All I said is salt damages your shingles and will void warranty. I'm a roofer but I wouldn't know so your probably right.

[@gregcourtney5001]

Salty run off can kill trees and grass you need to know where the spouts empty.

[@francesgarrett5675]

Jack Frost 🎿🩸