How to Melt Ice in a Gutter That's Causing Water to Leak Into the House
- 1). Remove as much snow from the roof and gutters as possible with a roof rake or push broom. The less snow there is, the less ice melt will occur, and the faster the deicing methods will work. Most roof rakes are extendable or have long handles. Use caution when working around power lines with these tools.
- 2). Make channels through the ice dam by hosing down the gutter ice with warm tap water from a hose attached to an indoor faucet. Work upward from the bottom of the dam and focus on creating channels that will allow backed-up water to drain across the gutter. Get the stream from the hose as close to the dam as possible. These channels will only provide temporary relief, and you must hose down the area again after a few days or use another melting method for longer-lasting control.
- 3). Apply a chemical deicer along the edge of the roof. Every few feet, place a small pile of deicer above the ice dam and sprinkle it in a line across the dam and gutter. Use a non-corrosive deicer to avoid damaging or staining the roofing materials.
- 4). Place electric heating cables along the roof's edge and gutter. Create a "W" pattern with the cables along the length of the gutter and ice dam, making sure that the cables extend beyond the roof or gutter edge to ensure they create drainage paths.
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