Ice dam removal is a winter job most Springfield homeowners never plan for. Snow on the upper roof melts from attic heat, runs down to the cold eaves, and refreezes into a ridge of ice. Water then backs up behind that ridge with nowhere to go, works its way under the shingles, and shows up inside the house as a ceiling stain or a wet wall.
Central Illinois winters make this worse. Days that warm above freezing followed by nights well below it repeat the melt-and-refreeze cycle again and again. This guide covers how to remove ice dams from your roof and gutters safely, what never to do, and the permanent fix that keeps them from coming back.
What Is an Ice Dam?
An ice dam is a ridge of frozen water along the lower edge of a roof. It blocks meltwater from reaching the gutter, so the water pools behind it and creeps upward under the shingles. Long icicles hanging from the gutters are the most visible warning sign. Inside, look for ceiling stains, damp insulation, or peeling paint near exterior walls.
Ice Dam Removal: Step by Step
The goal of ice dam removal is not to chip the whole ridge away. It is to get the trapped water draining and take the pressure off the roof without damaging the shingles or putting anyone at risk.
1. Start From the Ground
Look at the eaves for a solid line of ice, heavy snow, and icicles. Note where the dam is thickest; that is where water is backing up. Stay out from under icicles and overhanging snow while you look.
2. Pull Snow Off With a Roof Rake
Use a long-handled roof rake from the ground to pull snow off the lowest three to four feet of the roof. Less snow above the dam means less meltwater feeding it. Work in small sections and pull straight down so the rake does not catch shingle edges.
3. Melt a Channel With Calcium Chloride
Fill a cloth tube or an old pair of pantyhose with calcium chloride ice melt and lay it across the dam so it hangs slightly over the gutter. As it melts through, it opens a channel that lets trapped water drain. Use calcium chloride only. Rock salt (sodium chloride) damages shingles, gutters, and the plants below.
4. Clear the Gutters and Downspouts
Meltwater needs somewhere to go once it starts moving. Make sure downspouts are open at the bottom and not frozen solid. More on gutters below.
5. Check Inside the House
After the dam starts draining, check the attic and the ceilings along exterior walls for fresh water stains or wet insulation. Catching a leak early keeps a small repair from turning into a large one.
What Never to Do During Ice Dam Removal
- Don’t chip at the ice with a hammer, ice pick, axe, or shovel. It cracks shingles and gouges gutters.
- Don’t use open flame or a heat gun on the roof. It is a fire risk and damages shingles.
- Don’t use rock salt. It corrodes metal and kills plants below.
- Don’t pressure-wash the ice. High pressure strips granules and drives water under the shingles.
- Don’t climb onto an icy roof. Work from the ground. If it can’t be done from the ground, it is not a DIY job.
Ice Dam Removal From Gutters
A gutter packed with ice is part of the same problem. Don’t hammer it out; the weight of the ice is already straining the hangers, and impact can pull the gutter off the fascia. Lay a calcium chloride tube along the inside of the gutter and another down into the downspout opening to start water moving.
Once everything thaws, check the gutters for sagging sections, loose hangers, or runs pulling away from the house. Ice damage is a common reason gutters need replacing. Sutton’s installs seamless aluminum gutters in Springfield, IL, usually as part of a roof replacement.
When to Call an Ice Dam Removal Company
If the dam is thick, the roof is steep or high, or water is already coming inside, call a company that specializes in ice dam removal. Look for one that uses low-pressure steam, which melts the ice without harming shingles. Avoid anyone who shows up with hammers or a pressure washer.
Sutton’s does not remove ice dams. We handle what comes before and after: repairing the damage they cause, and building roofs that stop them from forming.
After the Ice Melts: Fixing the Damage for Good
Removing an ice dam treats the symptom. If water got inside, Sutton’s can repair the interior damage it left behind.
The permanent fix is at the roof edge. A roof with a self-adhering ice and water shield installed along the eaves, in the valleys, and around penetrations stops backed-up water from reaching the roof deck even when ice forms. Paired with balanced attic ventilation, it addresses the cause instead of the symptom. If your roof leaks every winter, a roof replacement in Springfield, IL with ice and water shield is the repair that lasts. Schedule a free roof inspection and we’ll tell you whether your roof needs it.
How to Prevent Ice Dams
Prevention comes down to keeping the roof deck cold so snow doesn’t melt unevenly:
- Bring attic insulation up to the recommended R-value for your climate zone, spread evenly with no thin spots near the eaves.
- Seal air leaks around attic hatches, recessed lights, vent pipes, and chimneys.
- Balance intake ventilation at the soffits with exhaust ventilation at the ridge.
- Have ice and water shield installed at the eaves, valleys, and penetrations when the roof is replaced.
- Clean gutters before winter so meltwater can drain freely.
- Consider self-regulating heat cables along the eaves on problem areas.
For more on how ice dams form, InterNACHI’s ice dam guide is a solid resource.
Conclusion
Safe ice dam removal means working from the ground: rake the snow, melt a drainage channel with calcium chloride, keep gutters and downspouts open, and never chip, burn, or pressure-wash the ice. For heavy dams, call a steam ice dam removal company.
If ice dams come back every winter, the real fix is a roof built to handle them. Contact Sutton’s, a GAF Master Elite® roofing contractor serving Springfield, IL since 1946, for a free roof inspection.
FAQs
What is the safest way to remove ice dams from a roof?
Pull snow off the lower roof with a roof rake from the ground, then lay a calcium chloride tube across the dam to melt a drainage channel. For thick dams, a professional ice dam removal company using low-pressure steam is the safest option.
How do you get ice out of gutters?
Lay calcium chloride along the inside of the gutter and into the downspout opening so the ice melts and drains. Don’t hammer the ice out; it can pull the gutter off the house.
Does Sutton’s remove ice dams?
No. Sutton’s repairs the interior damage ice dams cause and installs roofs with ice and water shield that prevent the leaks in the first place.
Will a new roof stop ice dams?
A new roof with ice and water shield at the eaves stops ice dams from causing leaks. Pairing it with proper attic insulation and ventilation reduces how often ice dams form at all.
Is it safe to remove ice dams myself?
Only from the ground with a roof rake and calcium chloride. Climbing onto an icy roof or chipping at the ice is how people get hurt and roofs get damaged.
