Help! - Ice dam...
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From: MI
Originally Posted by Ian F
Anyone have any suggestions for melting ice build-up on the edge of a roof?
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Originally Posted by Howdy
Over the office area here's this roof from a one room school house, intact. Instead of tearing it down when they built the new school, they just left it there. I now know from personal expirence that if you keep your roof dry, out of sunlight and at a controlled temperture, it'll last well over 100 years and never leak or have ice problems.
B. If you do do this, than what's the point of having a roof? That's exately what roof's are supposed to do!
Sorry, but I just had to say it!
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From: Colorado
Originally Posted by 99f350sd
Salt or hot water from a hose and warm weather...good luck
Funny most poeple dont know the drain on the hot water heater hooks up directly to your garden hose.
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Originally Posted by SSCX2
Funny most poeple dont know the drain on the hot water heater hooks up directly to your garden hose.
Yes, but will it reach from wherever it is to the roof? and even if it does, is there enough pressure to get it there? You could leave the cold water feed open, and you might have enough pressure, but you will deplete the water heater fast and then have cold water coming out, not to mention all the mineral junk that has built up in the water heater. I know if you're water heater is in the basement, there probably is little chance of the water getting above the first floor, even if you have a hose that can reach.And, you'll have to do it when it will be above freezing for a long time, because that water will just refreeze, and since it was sprayed up, there is an even better chance of it getting under the shingles. Besides, that would take A LOT of water, which is a worry if you have to heat it first and especally if you have a well.
Couldn't you go get an ice pick and break it up that way? You know, get on a ladder, attach a pole to it, and just break the ice?
Anyway, Good Luck!
Last edited by CTford; Jan 29, 2005 at 03:54 PM.
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From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by CTford
Yes, but will it reach from wherever it is to the roof? and even if it does, is there enough pressure to get it there? You could leave the cold water feed open, and you might have enough pressure, but you will deplete the water heater fast and then have cold water coming out, not to mention all the mineral junk that has built up in the water heater. I know if you're water heater is in the basement, there probably is little chance of the water getting above the first floor, even if you have a hose that can reach.
If he has a bathroom on the second floor, I'd hope the hot water would reach that far.[QUOTE]
Originally Posted by CTford
Couldn't you go get an ice pick and break it up that way? You know, get on a ladder, attach a pole to it, and just break the ice?
Anyway, Good Luck!
Anyway, Good Luck!
Bad idea...what usually happens is the shingles get a bunch of holes punched in them. Best idea is to shovel as much of it off as possible, and then use heat tape to melt grooves through the ice and melt it that way.
Insulation is a good preventive, but he's already got ice.
Last edited by rick90yj; Jan 30, 2005 at 05:56 PM.
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Lay salt in the area of the gutter and build the chanels with salt to drain the build up. I have seen people that fill thier gutters with salt in the fall and not worry about it untill the next fall.
Da'Moose
Da'Moose
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From: southern Md
I say use ice melter if it is available...alt are salt for water softner (crystals not pellets) second is fertilizer it will melt the ice and fertilize the grass when it thaws!! Then heat trace it this spring.
Glenn
Glenn
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Originally Posted by rick90yj
Bad idea...what usually happens is the shingles get a bunch of holes punched in them. Best idea is to shovel as much of it off as possible, and then use heat tape to melt grooves through the ice and melt it that way.
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From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by Ian F
This is what I did... worked well enough... no leaks.
