If you have an ice dam on your roof, it's important to get rid of it as soon as possible. Otherwise, the ice dam could cause serious leaks, which could result in serious damage to both your roof and the inside of your home. These are a few important steps that you should take if you have an ice dam.

Use a Snow Rake

If you have a single-story home and your ice dam is not too serious, you can get rid of it yourself. You can purchase a snow rake from a home improvement store, which is designed for getting rid of large piles of snow. Make sure that you purchase a snow rake that has a long handle, or invest in an extra handle to attach to it. Then, in gentle scraping motions, you can get rid of the snow that is piled on top of your home. You should never do this if your home has two levels or more, however, since it is very dangerous to use a snow rake when you are on a ladder.

Have it Steamed

If your ice dam is too thick to remove with a snow rake, or if your roof is too high for you to clear from the ground, then you will need to hire a roofing company to remove it. Residential roofers have special machines that they use to heat up the roof, which will cause the ice dam to melt off. Plus, the roofers can also check for any damage that might have occurred due to the ice dam and can make repairs if they are necessary.

Provide Further Protection

After getting rid of the ice dam, you will need to make changes to your roof to help prevent another one from building up. This can involve installing more insulation in your roof or adding heat cables, which will work to keep your roof warmer, which will prevent ice dams from forming. By protecting your roof now, you can help prevent all of the problems that can come along with roof dams.

If you have noticed an ice dam on top of your home, you shouldn't ignore it. The longer that you wait to do something about it, the greater chance that there will be a leak. Luckily, if you follow these tips, you should be able to take care of the ice dam quickly and effectively.

Contact a company like J D Sanderson Inc for more information.