Ice Dams Removed Safely in Philadelphia
An ice dam is a ridge of ice along the eaves that traps meltwater behind it. That water backs up under the shingles and into ceilings and walls. We remove the ice with low-pressure steam, which melts it without cutting into the roof.
Ice dams on Philadelphia homes form when attic heat melts roof snow that refreezes at the cold eaves, and water backs up under the shingles. We remove them with low-pressure steam rather than hammers or pressure washers, which damage shingles. Published Pennsylvania figures put ice dam work at $800 to $2,500, and fixing the attic heat loss stops them returning.
Why Ice Dams Form on Some Roofs and Not Others
Ice dams need three things: snow on the roof, a warm roof deck above the living space, and cold eaves overhanging the outside wall. Heat escaping into the attic melts the snow from below, and the water refreezes when it reaches the eave.
Houses with poorly insulated or poorly vented attics get them first, and so do roofs with heated rooms tucked under the slope. Removing the ice solves this winter; fixing the heat loss solves the next one.
How an Ice Dam Call Runs
- 1
A person answers
Where the ice is and whether water is inside.
- 2
Protect inside
We advise on moving belongings from wet areas.
- 3
Clear the edge
Snow above the dam raked or shoveled carefully.
- 4
Steam channels
Channels cut so trapped water drains.
- 5
Remove the dam
Ice cleared along the eave and gutters.
- 6
Find the cause
Attic heat loss and ventilation checked.
Steam Ice Dam Removal
Steam melts ice without cutting into shingles, which is why it is the only removal method we use. We use low-pressure, high-temperature steam to cut channels through the dam so trapped water can drain, then remove the ice in blocks along the eave. Hammers, picks and pressure washers break shingles, tear gutters loose and void warranties. The job takes a few hours for a typical eave, depending on how thick the ice is and how far it has built up the roof.
Roof Snow Removal
Clearing the lower few feet of snow above the eaves takes away the meltwater that feeds an ice dam. We rake or shovel snow from the roof edge carefully, leaving a thin layer on the shingles so tools never touch them, and keep snow off vents and away from skylights. On flat and low-slope roofs heavy drifts against parapets are cleared too, since they load the roof and hide blocked drains and scuppers that need to stay open for the thaw.
Ice Barrier Retrofit at the Eaves
Ice and water barrier is a self-adhered membrane laid under the shingles along the eaves, sealing around nails so backed-up water cannot get through. Many older Philadelphia roofs were built long before it existed and have none at all. When ice dams keep causing leaks, retrofitting the barrier means removing the lower shingle courses, installing the membrane, and relaying the shingles, usually in warmer weather after the emergency is over. Paired with better attic insulation and ventilation, it is the long-term fix.
What We See on Philadelphia Roofs
Ice dams in Philadelphia show up on pitched roofs, not on the flat rowhome core, so most of our ice dam calls come from places like Chestnut Hill and the Far Northeast. The post-war singles and twins of Rhawnhurst and Torresdale are pitched shingle roofs over attics, and any house heat escaping into those attics melts snow from below so it can refreeze at the cold eave.
Water dripping from the ceiling under the eave?
Call and we steam the dam open before it spreads.
Should You Knock Down the Ice Yourself?
Chipping ice from a ladder is how shingles and people get broken.
What a homeowner can safely do
- Rake snow off the lower roof edge from the ground
- Keep downspouts and the ground below them clear
- Move belongings away from wet ceilings and walls
Where it needs a roofer
- Removing ice from the roof itself
- Anything on a ladder over ice
- Salt, heat tape or chemicals on shingles and gutters
What Sets the Price of Ice Dam Removal
- Length of eaveMore linear feet of ice takes more steamer time.
- Ice thicknessThick dams built over weeks take longer.
- Roof height and pitchTall and steep roofs need more setup.
- Snow removalClearing snow above the dam adds labor.
- Interior damageWet ceilings and insulation are a separate repair.
A 2026 Pennsylvania roofing cost guide puts ice dam work at $800 to $2,500. That is a planning range, not our quote.
Ice Dam Questions
Often. Long icicles along the eave usually mean meltwater is refreezing there.
It can keep a channel open, but it treats the symptom. Attic insulation and ventilation fix the cause.
Yes. Heavy ice pulls gutters loose and bends hangers.
Water damage from ice dams is often covered; the dam itself may not be. Check your policy.
Only if it includes ice barrier and the attic heat loss is fixed. Shingles alone will not.
More Storm & Emergency Work in Philadelphia
From our guides: Ice Dams on Philadelphia Roofs: Causes and Fixes
Get the Ice Off Without Damaging the Roof
Call any hour when an ice dam is leaking. We steam it clear and tell you why it formed.