Fitzy ya need to update your sig

 

 

Digging out was quite fun

 

I just spent the afternoon raking the roof. Thankfully the leak in the master bath stopped once I got the snow off above and chipped away the ice dam.

 

Sounds like my house. Ray and I were out there this afternoon. We couldn't reach the ice dam. I had ice and snow removed by "pros" last week; can't do that all winter. I need to find a permanent fix.

 

Connie,
There is an answer. use electricity.

you can install, or have installed, a cable which is a low level heater.
the melt ice to create path for the water to drain off.

plug them in when you need them, and they aren't to costly.
just don't leave them plugged in for a month like I did.
or you'll be

 

Are ice dams more common in two story houses?

 

I don't think so. Ice dams are generally a sign that you need more insulation because your heat is escaping through the ceiling, to the attic, to the roof. Melting can also cause them when a lot of snow is on the roof and a couple of good sunny afternoons get it started only to freeze up again that night. Best bet is to get the snow off the edges/and valleys with a roof rake or electric de-icer so the melt can get to gutters or the ground.

 

The two story part makes snow control a lot more challenging.
It's a lot easier on a single story structure to reach with a snow rake but even then it's almost 15-20 feet long.

I dealt with some of my ice dams yesterday.
Let em tell you, wrestling a 30 foot ladder around in the summer is no fun,
In 3 feet of snow, it's miserable.