How to De-Ice Your Roof

Your roof may be able to protect your home from the worst weather that winter has to offer, but it does have its limits. Too much ice and snow can weigh heavily on your roof and cause issues such as ice dams, leaks, and damage to your gutters and shingles. In some cases, too much ice and snow can cause your roof to collapse. To keep the worst of these problems from happening, you need to take steps to de-ice your roof and keep it free of too much snow. Here are a few solutions that will help with that.

Get a Snow Rake

The easiest way to keep your roof safe during the winter is to remove excess snow from it with a snow rake. A snow rake is essentially a shovel that can remove snow and crusted ice from your roof. It usually only affects the edges of your roof, but that can make a difference after a large snowfall. 

Install Heat Cables on Your Roof

Heat cables are electrical wires that are placed in a zig-zag pattern on your roof. They can melt ice and snow when they heat up and allow it to drain safely from your roof. They aren't that effective if you already have ice dams or sheets of ice on your roof, but they can prevent ice dams from forming by creating a channel for water to drain away. 

Apply De-Icing Chemicals to Your Roof

If you already have ice dams or sheets of ice on your roof, you can melt them away with de-icing chemicals. A thick layer of de-icer laid over a sheet of ice will slowly melt it away, but you can also get rid of a heavy ice dam by drilling holes into it and filling them with a de-icing product. Both of these solutions do require someone to climb up onto your roof, so you might want to leave this to professional roofers.

While you can expect at least a little bit of ice and snow on your roof this winter, too much can cause some problems. If you notice that you have too much snow on your roof or you notice leaks or water damage in your home, you need to de-ice your roof as soon as possible. If you need any de-icing assistance or roofing repairs this winter, don't hesitate to contact 970 Roofing Services of Loveland. We will be happy to take a look at your frozen roof and find a solution that keeps you and your family safe.