How to Treat and Prevent Ice Dams | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains the best ways to keep your roof and gutters free from those dreaded ice dams. (See below for a shopping list and steps.)

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Tom talks to Kevin about ice dams and the best ways to prevent them.

Tom offers some temporary solutions, like placing some ice melt or rock salt in an old sock and tossing it onto the ice dam, allowing a channel for the water to drain.

More permanent solutions include increasing insulation in your attic or your roof. Some insulations, like fiberglass bats, can be purchased from a home center. Others, like expanding spray foam, require professional installation. An insulation contractor can make specific recommendations for your home.

Shopping List for How to Treat and Prevent Ice Dams:
- Ice melt or rock salt
- Additional insulation

Steps for How to Treat and Prevent Ice Dams:
1. To fight existing ice dams, try placing ice melt or rock salt in an old sock or a paper bag and toss it onto the dam, allowing for drainage.
2. To prevent future ice dams, look to increase insulation in attics and/or roof rafters.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

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How to Treat and Prevent Ice Dams | Ask This Old House
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