Ice dams, the thick, solid ice that form along the edges of your roof when snow and ice are allowed to melt and refreeze, can wreak havoc for New England homeowners. While homeowners should want to try and prevent them, how do you get rid of them if they've already formed?

1. Blow Cold Air - This might seem counterintuitive—you might assume that you should blow warm air at an ice dam but doing so will actually make the problem worse. Use a box fan to blow cool air at a leaking roof to freeze the water, literally stopping it in its tracks so it cannot continue to leak into your home.

2. Rake the Roof - From a position safely on the ground, use a long-handled aluminum rake to pull snow and ice off your roof. Raking snow off your roof can help prevent ice dams from forming, but it can also limit ice dam growth if you already have some ice dam formation. Get out there with your rake after every fresh snowfall. However, make sure to use caution during the process and be aware of where the snow and ice may land as you rake it down!

3. Use De-Icing Products - Another option is to attempt to melt the ice dam or at least clear a path for the melted snow and ice to run off the roof before it can refreeze.

4. Hire an Ice Dam Removal Service - There are many companies that offer ice dam removal services. If your ice dam formation is severe enough or if you aren’t comfortable removing it yourself, that will probably be your best option for ice dam removal.

5. Permanent Fix - A more permanent solution for ice dams is to improve your roof’s ventilation and insulation to prevent ice dams from forming in the first place. Schedule an audit with your HVAC provider to determine what your problem areas are.