Use roof melt tablets to reduce snow and ice buildup that occurs on your roof typically on the eaves and in gutters.
Rock salt to melt ice dams on roof.
Q i want to use a stocking with salt in it to melt the ice dam on my roof.
When you ve got icicles like those above it s time to figure out the best strategy for removing the snow from your roof.
A do not put salt on your roof.
Why you have them why you don t want them.
An ice dam forms when the roof over the attic gets warm enough to melt the underside of the layer of snow on the roof.
The calcium chloride will eventually melt through the snow and ice and create a channel for water to flow down into the gutters or off the roof.
Salt socks work on the principle that the ice melting compound is contained in a linear form which when laid across an ice dam will melt a channel through the ice.
It should be no surprise then that it is the first thing many people think of to remove ice dams.
That path would then presumably be used as an escape route for water that may tend to get trapped behind the ice dam.
But where do i put this contraption.
A word of caution.
Preventing ice dam problems.
Rock salt can also leave permanent stains on your roof and walls.
Removing snow from your roof.
The tablets are specially formulated with calcium chloride so they won t harm your exterior like products such as rock salt which could rust your gutters and damage shingles.
Removing the snow removes the water that forms ice.
Sodium chloride or rock salt is highly corrosive.
Again for the most part you don t want to throw any type of ice melt product on your roof.
The tablets help prevent roof damage by melting through ice dams and allowing water to drain safely.
However rock salt is a form of sodium chloride which corrodes metal including the metal nails holding your shingles in place.
The water trickles down between the layer of snow and the shingles until it reaches the eave of the roof which stays cold because it extends beyond the side of the house.
If necessary use a long handled garden rake or hoe to push it into position.
Pantyhose a quick fix to melt ice dams this article.
Do not substitute rock salt for calcium chloride as rock salt can damage shingles and kill bushes and foliage beneath.
Lay the hose onto the roof so it crosses the ice dam and overhangs the gutter.
Make sure the ice melt product you buy contains only.