An ice dam is one thing you don’t want to see on your roof during the winter. The build-up of snow results from either high humidity or poor insulation. Regardless of the reason, these ice blockages can cause leaks when they melt and put an unnecessary strain on your roof, often causing shingles to loosen.
Preventing ice dams from forming in the first place is better than having to remove them. You can achieve this by having the right gutter guards installed by local aluminum gutter installation companies. If you do need to remove an ice dam, it should always be up to the professionals.
Be wary though; not all ice dam removal companies have the right training or equipment. In this post, Klean Gutters Midwest shares the three things that help you spot companies that perform shoddy ice dam removal.
Not Using Steam
Steam is the best option for removing even the most stubborn of ice dams. The advantage of steam is that it doesn’t leave too much water on the roof, while still being hot enough to completely melt the offending ice block. When you’re choosing from a pool of water runoff management companies, be wary of those that use water to clear off ice dams. This is an okay-at-best method, but it takes a longer amount of time to get rid of the ice, and a longer work time means more time that you’ll be paying for.
Poor Technique
Be wary of companies that use a ‘rushed’ technique when getting rid of ice dams, such as spraying the entire roof. This is an inefficient method that may end up causing damage to the roof when the water eventually freezes.
Workers Use the Wrong Equipment
Finally, you should be wary of contractors that use hard tools such as chisels and hammers. While these may seem like effective tools to get rid of ice dams, they pose a risk to the roof. The force of a hard tool striking the ice dam can loosen shingles and even damage the roof. Damage from these tools may also be excluded by your insurance, so always ask your prospective contractor what tools they plan on using.
At Klean Gutters Midwest, we’re more than just copper gutter installation contractors. We also install top-quality gutter guards that completely protect your gutters from ice dams. We believe that prevention is always better than the cure, and that’s why each of our gutter protection systems is custom fit to suit the unique dimensions of your gutters. Call us today at (855) 974-4699 to learn more about our gutter guards and covers.
