Snow, snow and more snow here in the Twin Cities! And along with snow and severely cold temperatures comes ice. It's dangerous wherever it forms, especially on your roof or at its edge. And yes, we're talking about ice dams. Snow and ice accumulation on the roof are a major concern for those of us in Minnesota.

There are many ice issues that can happen on a roof during a Minnesota winter, so as a homeowner it is important that find out what exactly you should do to stop them from happening and if you can fix them yourself. This is especially important. You don’t want to be the one that is aiding the ice in forming and causing further problems.

Got an Ice Dam? Don’t Make This Mistake

When an ice dam forms on the roof, it is usually something that needs to be removed as soon as possible, before damage occurs to your roof and inside your home. The same goes for any snow that might have accumulated on the rooftop.

It is common to want to grab a shovel and remove the snow on your own, or even try to lift up the ice dam so it is not causing problems. But it's usually not wise to tackle a job like this yourself. You can damage the shingles and even create holes in the areas of the roof. You could also slip off the roof and severely injure yourself.

With Ice Dams, Prevention Is Key

In order to stop the ice dams from happening on the roof, it is essential that you prevent them. You want to make sure that your attic has enough ventilation to prevent the ice from staying there. This heats up the areas and doesn’t allow ice to form.

If you find that ice dams are a common problem, speak with our ice dam professionals to find out how we can come out to assess the situation. We can take care of the current ice dam and then help to find a way to prevent it from happening in the coming winter months.