ICE DAMS - Why They Happen & How to Melt Them

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In this video we go over why ice dams happen and your best options to remove them and prevent them in the future.
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Blessings,
Ben

[@jamesdehn1463]

Ben, I've fixed 3 older homes to prevent ice dams in SE Wisconsin by adding a continuous ridge vent and cutting in soffit vents every 32" spacing, every other joist space. Houses were built 1978, 1965, and 1972 and only had a few box vents and 3 or 4 soffit vents. I only have 6" insulation in attic and haven't had any more ice dams in 20 years. Before that ice dams were 8" thick stretched back across 36" overhang and leaking into windows. So ventilation is #1 most important. A easy before and after check is to look at your roof when you have frost on the roof. If not enough ventilation, then you will see heated space melt first and see lines from roof rafters. After you add enough ventilation, you won't see the roof rafter lines and frost will stay on your roof longer than your neighbors, and frost will melt off evenly. You may want to consider adding ridge vents. It looks like you don't have a ridge vent. Good luck. I hope you get your ice dams fixed.

[@rojo3243]

Really great resource for any homeowner

[@MGPackers]

Thank you for the video! You had some great help. Cheers!

[@adamkleinschmidt3041]

Good timing! I have a vaulted ceiling that's a spray foamed hot roof. The overhangs are like 3 feet and a serious issue I need to resolve

[@lilo2469]

Your Kids are cute in the Video Ben 🌞

[@jay_321]

I had one of those electrical web things, you described, on my apartment roof in SE Idaho. It had heater wires that melted the ice accumulation in the gutters also which kept them clear. One turned it on and off manually. It worked well, but you must remember to turn it off after it has done its job or it will run your electric bill up to the moon.

[@gregbrockway1278]

More ventilation fixed my ice dams. I already had R50 insulation

[@misterdubity3073]

When I had a leak like yours just inside a window, I taped some large unopened garbage bags (or just use a plastic drop cloth) so it would capture the drips and direct them into a large plastic garbage can. This kept the window sill and floor dry.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Yup, we were using containers and towels until we were able to get it fixed.

[@arthurleslie9669]

As for ice dams, if I ever get one in my Mississippi location I’ll definitely agree that our weather is being manipulated. :)

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Haha exactly!

[@ThomasEricWendt]

thanks for the vid

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

You bet

[@jeffbarnard3050]

I used to get up on the roof and shovel. I moved so that has not been a problem.

[@meganwinters5163]

Old sock + rock salt = no more ice dams on roof 👍 also no additional energy needed (i.e. hot water, heat strips, climbing a ladder...) Be safe out there ☺️🙏

[@Christiane069]

Nice family.

[@brucemaguire2757]

I used to work for a spray foam contractor and become a firm believer in the technology however spray foam is not infallible. Can only do so much. Other steps are necessary as well.

[@ducky3922]

Ice melt products work well also to get the pathway open.

[@Screamingpinesfarm]

You also could lay a layer of foam board over roof deck then shingles next time you redo your roof yet then you should install steel.

[@carguy1312]

All you need is a diamond plate house roof to match the dog house!

[@keytothegate68]

OMG. I would expect someone in California to try this but really surprised to see MN winter veteran try this

[@alfranca5961]

Usually ice dams are associated with un clean gutters ; when I get lazy and do not clean mine here in the suburbs of Boston.

[@ranger178]

I have plastic slate on my roof if you don't put snow guards on roof you get great avalanches of whole roof just slides off and buries people when sun shines on roof like in grumpy old men movie lol. we also put ice membrane on roof, and it keeps any water from leaking through it self-seals even sealing the nail holes. and we put the heat cables, but they are finicky in how you put them on roof and gutter to get the water to drain and not make giant icicles you have to heat the leaf guard on gutter also.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

All good points.

[@JW-qp5uf]

I have a metal roof with 2” foam board on the roof deck and still get ice dams. It’d be pretty hard to properly air seal, there is 6” of old loose fill on the attic floor and little room to work… No ice dam leaks at windows though.

[@Dmitrytln]

You can run copper pipe with hot water under the roof. If the second floor has bathroom, you can do hot water recirculation under roof.

[@larkenfernandez3878]

having the tip of the water hose pointed upwards on the roof can also cause water leaks as water will get through from underneath the shingles

[@stans5270]

Girl - Asks a serious question to her dad. Boy - Belches. Genders

[@bobbywanger8123]

👍

[@VEERRNN]

would a spray nozzle work better to get more surface area?

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Not really, the larger slower flow without a nozzle works best. If you spray through the air with s smaller nozzle it tends to cool down the water a lot before it even hits the ice.

[@snoopdog6793]

I have always chisel the ice dams and never damaged the roof. Way faster than with water.

[@petebusch9069]

You can chip that ice off if you leave the last inch of ice thickness to avoid damaging the shingles, water in winter is a mess. You don't have to get 100% of the ice off.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

True, if you know what you're doing that can work.

[@petebusch9069]

@@BenjaminSahlstrom Yep, just have to be careful and leave a small layer of ice.

[@jgrenwod]

There might be warm air intrusion in to the insulated cavity around that sky light by the stairs. Seal it.

[@ocko8011]

Additional insulation can be added externally if you ever need to replace the shingles. Continuous insulation or even adding roof depth for venting but these options can be expensive.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

When I replace the roof I am planning on adding foam and a steel roof, most likely.

[@ocko8011]

That would be a great video! Both the design and construction phases.

[@EarendilTheBlessed]

Don't add insulation.. Remove it. Add venting.

[@CohassetMA]

Real bad ice dam here in Roosevelt, UT 2002-2003. Found the best way is to use scaffolding and a hatchet. I had an incident in the late 90s where the ladder slid out while working up high as the ground had previously been flooded. As a result of a broken water line. I came real close to breaking both my legs as my legs went between the rungs and my bottom end slammed down onto the top of the ladder. The aluminum ladder bent in response. I will always use scaffolding now because it is so much safer, especially when working above ice or water that has frozen as a consequence of the cold weather. I did accidently cause abt a 3/8 in hole and a 1/8 in hole but i quickly patched them up with some silicone rubber. This was on a slate shingle root. I wouldnt hesitate to chip it out again with a hatchet. Most of the work was focused on a rain gutter heaped up into a solid ice pattern for abt 7 -8 ft segment of the edge of the roof. I used a snow rake to pull down the majority of the snow. I had to do this same chipping and rake process 10 or so years ago.. i also used large aspirin shaped snow removal pellets for areas that I couldnt safely reach. After several years of wxperience using this same process, I'd most certainly do it same way again. Biggest problem is finding someone to rent scaffolding or borrowing from a friend or neighbor and finding planks that might be burried in the snow. Be safe and good luck.

[@CohassetMA]

Correction to previous post. Should be 2022-2023. This is my wife's account. Arvin W.

[@johnwardell467]

I have filled a woman’s nylon stocking with ice melt, tie a line on the end throw up on the roof and pull to the edge with the line. It melts the ice

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

I've seen that too. Pretty interesting method! If it works it works I suppose!

[@bobby_greene]

Could you add an oil coating (even cooking spray) on that part of the shingles in the fall as a preventative measure?

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

I would be concerned that it might damage the roof surface and cause a mess down the side of the house.

[@ranger178]

no the gravel is too coarse you would have to like paint the roof with silicone caulk

[@SynKronos]

Not salt it?

[@michaeljablonsmi4686]

what about raking in the first place or just hitting it with a hammer to break it off. damage is already done

[@josephnehrbauer7343]

buy a salt lick from local farm store...... put on roof above ice dam ...... done - no electric power needed! It will last quite a while

[@EarendilTheBlessed]

Get a good architect to help you understand how houses in cold climate should be built. Sadly most house were and still are built by contractors with no knowledge of quite basic principles in construction. Heat transfer, condensation, dew point, air barrier, moisture barrier. Knowledge to build quality house had been known for centuries... Its just that ppl put their head in the sand

[@LookUpTheKalergiPlanWhitePeeps]

Well I'll be dam

[@auletjohnast03638]

Weren't you scared your kids were going to fall off the roof?

[@ranger178]

they will just bounce off all the snow lol.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Yes, we took precautions, and they understood where they were allowed to be.

[@bobingalls4643]

not high-pressure steam, low pressure steam is what you want.

[@JSoll289]

Ice and water shield?

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Definitely helpful. I talk about that in the video too.

[@MasterShiFu714]

Kids on the roof, nice