How to Prevent Ice Dams From Damaging Your Home

Don’t try to remove the ice dam yourself. Few outdoor home repairs are as dangerous as working on a ladder resting against an icy gutter. The solution is to call a professional roofing contractor. They can remove excess snow from the roof and melt the ice that’s causing the backup.

Climbing onto a slick and snowy roof without proper safety harnesses and precautions, regardless of the reason or conditions, isn’t a good idea. Hundreds of homeowners end up in emergency rooms each year after trying to remove ice dams on their own.

The cost of professional removal depends on how large and accessible your ice dams are, but Home Advisor estimates the national average to remove an ice dam is about $1,200. Angi, formerly Angie’s List, says to expect to pay $150 to $700 per hour for the job, which can take 2 to 5 hours to complete.

Before starting the project, make sure to check on what’s covered by your homeowners insurance policy. 

Allstate Insurance notes that dwelling coverage will often cover the cost of repairs associated with ice dams, up to the limits specified in your policy. But personal property coverage may not cover damage to your belongings. In simple terms, insurance may cover repairs to plaster, drywall, flooring, and roofing. But if a leak destroys, say, your collection of rare baseball cards, you’re probably out of luck. Make sure to move any valuable personal items out of the way the minute you observe a leak.

If your ceiling or walls have been damaged, don’t attempt any repairs until they dry out or until you’ve had a chance to talk with your insurance company. When considering any repairs, you’ll also want to address the heat-loss problem that caused the ice dam in the first place.