Rain Gutter Solutions(208) 724-7885
Service

Ice Dam Prevention & Removal

Heat cable, improved drainage and safe removal for the freeze-thaw cycle that defines an Idaho winter.

About ice dam prevention & removal

Ice dams form when heat escaping the roof melts snow that then refreezes at the cold eave. Water backs up under the shingles and finds its way inside. The gutter is where you see the problem, not where it starts, which is why simply clearing the ice does not stop it happening again in three weeks.

We fit self regulating heat cable in the trough and downspout on the roof planes that actually dam, which for most valley homes is the north facing side that never gets winter sun. Self regulating matters: it draws more power where it is cold and backs off where it is not, so it is not heating the whole run at full tilt all winter.

Removal is done with steam, never by chipping. Chipping ice off a gutter takes the gutter with it, and we have replaced plenty of runs damaged that way by crews in a hurry. Steam melts a channel and lets the backed up water drain without touching the metal or the shingles.

Underground drain line carrying downspout water well away from the foundation
Underground drain line carrying downspout water well away from the foundation
What you get

What is included

  • Assessment of which roof planes actually dam and why
  • Self regulating heat cable in the trough, the outlet and down the downspout
  • Exterior GFCI outlet placement advised where one is needed
  • Downspout routing checked so meltwater has somewhere to go
  • Steam removal of existing ice, with no chipping
  • Honest advice on attic insulation and ventilation, which is the actual root cause
Method

How we do it

  1. Work out where the heat is escaping

    Ice dams are an insulation and ventilation problem showing up at the eave. We look at which planes dam and which do not, because that tells you a lot about what is going on above the ceiling.

  2. Fit cable where it earns its keep

    Cable in the trough alone just makes a heated puddle. It has to run into the outlet and down the downspout so the melt has a continuous path off the roof.

  3. Give the water somewhere to go

    A cleared channel that dumps onto a frozen downspout achieves nothing. Drainage gets checked as part of the same job.

  4. Steam, never chip

    Where ice has already formed, steam takes it off without damaging the gutter, the shingles or the fascia.

Worth checking

Signs you need ice dams

If you recognise more than one of these it is worth having someone look, and looking is free.

  • A ridge of ice along the eave with icicles hanging off the gutter
  • Water stains on the ceiling or at the top of an exterior wall in winter
  • Icicles that keep coming back in the same place every year
  • Snow melting off most of the roof but sitting at the edge
  • Damp or frost in the attic near the eaves
  • A gutter that pulled loose over winter
Pricing

What drives the price

We quote on site rather than over the phone, because these vary enough between houses that a phone number would be a guess. Here is exactly what we are weighing up.

Length of cable run
Priced by the foot of roof edge covered, plus the downspout runs. Usually only the problem elevations need it.
Power supply
If there is no exterior outlet within reach, an electrician needs to add one. We will tell you before we quote rather than after.
Removal versus prevention
Emergency steam removal in the middle of winter costs more than fitting cable in September. The cheapest ice dam is the one you deal with in autumn.
Roof complexity
Valleys, dormers and multiple planes all need cable routed around them.

Ready for a free estimate?

We come to you, measure properly, and leave you with a written price. No obligation and no follow-up pressure.

Call (208) 724-7885Request online
Straight answers

Questions about ice dams

What actually causes ice dams?

Heat escaping through the ceiling into the attic warms the roof deck. Snow on the warm part melts, runs down to the cold overhang where there is no living space beneath it, and refreezes. Do that for a few days and you build a ridge of ice that traps the next meltwater behind it, and that water backs up under the shingles. It is an insulation and ventilation problem that shows up at the gutter, which is why clearing the ice alone never fixes it.

Does heat cable use a lot of electricity?

Less than people expect, because we fit self regulating cable. It draws more power in the coldest spots and throttles back where it is warmer, rather than running flat out along the whole length. It also only needs to be on when conditions are right for damming, not all winter.

Can I just knock the ice off myself?

Please do not. Chipping ice out of a gutter takes the gutter with it, and we have replaced runs wrecked exactly that way. It also puts you on a ladder on ice. Steam removal melts a drainage channel without touching the metal or the shingles.

When should this be done?

Cable goes in during autumn, before the first hard freeze, while the roof is dry and safe to work on. Removal happens whenever it has to, but it costs more and it is more disruptive. If you had dams last winter, deal with it in September.

Ice dams across the valley

Available everywhere in our core area, roughly 30 miles around Eagle, with no travel charge and free estimates. We travel further into Idaho for larger jobs with the travel quoted up front.

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