Ice Dam Removal & Prevention in NJ

Ice dam removal in NJ, and the fix that stops them

Ice dams form when heat escaping into the attic melts snow on the upper roof, which then refreezes at the cold eaves. The dam traps meltwater behind it, and that water backs up under the shingles and into your home. Clogged gutters at the eaves make it worse.

We remove ice dams safely with low-pressure steam, the only method that will not damage your shingles, and then fix the underlying cause with balanced attic ventilation and insulation, so you are not paying for the same scramble every January. Steam ice dam removal is the only method we use on homes across New Jersey.

The first sign is usually a winter roof leak: a stain on a ceiling near an outside wall during a thaw, or water running down inside a window frame. Big icicles on the roof edge and a thick band of ice along the gutters are the warning signs outside. When water is already coming in, the dam comes off before anything else.

Ice dam prevention is attic work. Sealing the gaps where warm air leaks into the attic, bringing the insulation up to a modern depth and balancing soffit and ridge ventilation keeps the roof deck cold, so snow melts evenly or not at all. Roof heat cables can hold a channel open in one trouble spot, but they treat the symptom and add to the electric bill every winter. Our guide to preventing ice dams in New Jersey covers the details.