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Re: OT: How to deal with ice dams? Posted by DickT [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: Re: OT: How to deal with ice dams?, Bill Homer ![]() |
I think you really have to assess the potential danger to people and the building and weigh that against the likelihood of a thaw.
If you can get at the eaves with a roof rake and take off the first couple of feet right after it snows you're ahead. I use a long aluminum pole to take down icicles. With a measured push they'll fall straight down. Push too hard and they'll break a window or fall on your head.
When I was younger I stood on a ladder and used chainsaws, axes, and other brute force attacks. That is dangerous and potentially destructive but it does work. If you cut grooves into big dams you can knock out the chunks with an axe and leave an inch or so. Trying to pry off the whole thing will often take a lot of shingles along with it.
Sometimes a thaw will come along, though, and make all that work unnecessary. As others have mentioned building science has a lot to say about how to reduce ice dams.
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