Professional ice dam removal uses low-pressure steam that melts the ice without touching the shingles. Chipping with a hammer, chisel, or ice pick — or blasting with a pressure washer — cracks cold, brittle shingles, tears off the granule surface, and can void your roof warranty. Steam costs more per hour but protects the roof you're trying to save.
How steam removal works
A steamer heats water and delivers it at low pressure through a wand. The heat melts the ice; the low pressure means it slides between the ice and the shingle without prying. A technician cuts drainage channels first to relieve the trapped water behind the dam, then clears the eave and valleys. Most jobs take a few hours depending on how much ice has built up.
Why chipping and picking damages the roof
When the air temperature is in the teens or 20s°F, asphalt shingles are stiff and brittle. A chisel or hatchet that's meant for the ice catches shingle edges, cracks tabs, and knocks off the granules that protect the shingle from UV. You often don't see the damage until spring, when those spots start to leak or fail early.
Why a pressure washer is not a steamer
A pressure washer uses cold water at high pressure. It can blast ice off, and shingles with it — lifting tabs, driving water under courses, and stripping granules. A true ice dam steamer runs low pressure with high heat. They are not interchangeable, and the difference shows on the roof.
What DIY methods can and can't do
- Roof rake (from the ground): good for removing snow before a dam forms; won't remove existing ice.
- Calcium chloride in a sock, laid across the dam: can open a small drainage slot; slow and limited, and avoid rock salt, which corrodes metal.
- Heat cables: may keep a channel open if installed before winter; high energy use, doesn't address the cause.
What professional steaming costs and how long it takes
Ice dam steaming is typically billed by the hour, with the total driven by the size of the dam, roof access, and how many elevations are affected. A single problem eave is a short visit; a fully iced-in house takes longer. You get the roof cleared without new damage.
When to call right away
Call when water is entering the house, when ice is visibly damming behind the gutters, or when large icicles are hanging from the eaves and soffit. See ice dam steaming.
Fixing the cause so it doesn't come back
Steaming is the emergency fix. The permanent fix is a colder roof deck through air sealing, insulation, and ventilation. See insulation services.
Frequently asked questions
Does steam damage shingles? No. It's low pressure with heat, designed for roofing.
How much does a visit cost? Usually hourly; the dam's size and roof access set the total.
Will it hurt my gutters or landscaping? Crews protect plantings and work carefully around gutters and downspouts.
Is removal covered by insurance? Usually not; the resulting interior water damage often is — see insurance claims assistance.
Get an ice dam removed safely
Total Home Exteriors steams ice dams across the north metro without cracking a shingle. Call 612-388-7795 or contact us.
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