A ridge of ice sits along the eave above the gutter
So mobilization stays on track, that ridge is the dam itself, and meltwater is pooling behind it.
Source of the water
Nationwide
Our always-ready team addresses water entering beneath roof materials, then dries attic insulation, framing, walls, and ceilings affected by the leak.
Signs to look for
With a crew geared up, if you notice any of these problems, call us before water has more time to spread into nearby materials.
So mobilization stays on track, that ridge is the dam itself, and meltwater is pooling behind it.
So mobilization stays on track, icicles mean water is running down a warm roof and freezing at a cold edge.
For an always-ready response, ice dam water enters over the top plate and drops into the corner.
Because we answer at any hour, the wall cavity carries the water down to the first thing that blocks it, which is a window head.
Because we answer at any hour, the snow needs to melt before there is any water to leak.
So mobilization stays on track, heat escaping into the attic melts snow over the heated part of the house.
What happens
Our always-ready team adjusts the work to what got wet, how far the water traveled, and which materials can be saved.
For an always-ready response, wet ceiling boxes and can lights mean the circuit gets shut off from a dry location.
Because we answer at any hour, steam removal is the correct method, and we coordinate a crew that has the gear. So mobilization stays on track, low pressure steam melts a channel through the ice without stripping the shingles.
For an always-ready response, a moisture meter runs the full length of every exterior wall in the affected room, not just the stained part.
For an always-ready response, baseboard or window casing comes off and small access holes let us read and dry inside the cavity.
So mobilization stays on track, compacted or soaked material at the perimeter comes out in place and gets replaced with a measured R value.
With a crew geared up, the house stays heated, the wet cavity gets contained, and air movers work into the openings with an Professional dehumidifier on the room.
Talk with a restoration specialist
Describe the source, the impacted rooms, and when you first noticed the damage.
What to expect
Here is how we ordinarily handle ice dam leak cleanup near the United States.
With a crew geared up, ice ridge, icicles, snow depth and which side of the house it is on. With a crew geared up, those four answers let our standby desk know whether steam removal comes on the first trip.
Your callBecause we answer at any hour, take pictures of the eave from the ground while the ice is still there.
+5 minutesWith a crew geared up, sealed work area, drying gear and the steam contact get lined up together. With a crew geared up, winter calls come in clusters during a thaw, so we sequence by severity.
+15 minutesFor an always-ready response, we record the dam, the icicles, the gutter condition and every interior stain with dates.
On arrivalFor an always-ready response, steam opens channels through the dam so water drains off the roof instead of backing up under the shingles.
First hours on siteSo mobilization stays on track, readings run the full exterior wall length, the ceiling perimeter and both sides of every window head.
First hours on siteSo mobilization stays on track, swollen window casing, failed board and soaked blown in insulation at the eave are removed and logged.
Day 1Understanding the cost
With a crew geared up, we explain the recommended work and price before you approve the job. With a crew geared up, these examples show what may change the estimate.
| Common situation | What the estimate may include | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Steam ice dam removal at the eave, by a specialty crew | Nationwide cost range. In most cases billed hourly at roughly $250 to $500 per hour, typically one to three hours, with a minimum charge. | $400 to $1,500 |
| Interior cleanup after one ice dam leak, one room dried in place | Nationwide cost range for perimeter ceiling and wall drying with trim removal, no demolition. | $600 to $2,000 |
| Several eaves leaking, multiple rooms with removal and drying | Nationwide cost range including wet insulation removal, drywall sections and five to seven drying days. | $3,000 to $9,000 |
| Wet attic or perimeter insulation removal and disposal, per square foot | Nationwide cost range for extraction, bagging and disposal of soaked material. | $1.00 to $2.50 |
| Perimeter drywall removal with cavity drying, per square foot | Nationwide cost range for removal, disposal and drying of the opened assembly. | $1.50 to $4.00 |
| Attic air sealing and insulation top up, by an insulation contractor | Nationwide cost range for sealing attic bypasses and bringing depth back to code. This is the fix, not the cleanup. | $1,200 to $4,000 |
| Heat cable installed at the eave and in the gutter, by a contractor | Nationwide cost range for a separate trade, not part of our cleanup work plan. It manages symptoms on a problem eave and adds a power bill each winter. | $600 to $2,500 |
| After hours or overnight dispatch charge | Nationwide cost range for nights, weekends and holidays, billed once rather than per hour. | $100 to $400 nationally |
How many eaves are leaking
For an always-ready response, one dam over one room is a contained job.
How far the water ran along the wall
So mobilization stays on track, water spreads sideways on the top plate before it drops.
Whether the ice has to be removed first
Steam removal is its own contractor site call and is ordinarily billed hourly. It is not optional while water is still backing up.
How much ceiling, wall and trim has to come out
With a crew geared up, board that can be dried in place costs a fraction of what removal and rebuild cost.
Insulation type and depth at the perimeter
Because we answer at any hour, blown in material at the eave has to be extracted rather than lifted out.
Cold weather drying days
So mobilization stays on track, air movers run roughly $25 to $40 per unit per day and Professional dehumidifiers roughly $70 to $110 per unit per day.
Why timing counts
For an always-ready response, water can keep moving into nearby materials even when the surface looks dry.
So mobilization stays on track, one warm afternoon and one cold night is all it takes to make more ice.
So mobilization stays on track, shingles shed running water, they do not hold standing water.
Because we answer at any hour, soaked material at the eave stops insulating, so more heat reaches the roof deck and more snow melts.
For an always-ready response, framing at 35 degrees releases moisture very slowly.
Helpful service information
Because we answer at any hour, start with the short explanation. For an always-ready response, open a card if you want a little more detail.
For an always-ready response, heat leaking from the house warms the roof deck over the living space.
For an always-ready response, the physics here are simple and they explain everything about where the water shows up.
Ice dams form where heat loss is concentrated, so they come back in the same place until that path is closed.
Recurrence is the part that counts for your money. Ice dams form where heat loss is concentrated, so they come back in the same place until that path is closed.
It enters over the top plate at the outside wall, so the first wet materials are the ceiling perimeter and the top of the wall cavity.
Inside the building, ice dam water behaves unlike any other leak we handle. It enters over the top plate at the outside wall, so the first wet materials are the ceiling perimeter and the top of the wall cavity.
Help near you
Choose your area below, or call (888) 657-0846 and describe what happened.
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Get a Quote: (888) 657-0846Common questions
Because we answer at any hour, heat escaping into your attic melts snow on the upper roof. For an always-ready response, that water runs down and refreezes at the cold overhang, building a ridge of ice.
So mobilization stays on track, nationally, one room dried in place ordinarily runs about $600 to $2,000. Because we answer at any hour, several leaking eaves with removal typically run $3,000 to $9,000.
So mobilization stays on track, ordinarily yes for the interior damage, because it is treated as sudden weather damage. So mobilization stays on track, many carriers also reimburse ice removal as mitigation.
So mobilization stays on track, no. Because we answer at any hour, do not chip, hammer, chisel or pressure wash ice on a roof, and do not put a ladder against an icy building.
With a crew geared up, a roof rake used from the ground is reasonable for pulling snow off the lower roof. Because we answer at any hour, keep it away from overhead power lines and stand clear of what comes down.
So mobilization stays on track, low pressure steam is the correct method and it is what the specialty crews use.
So mobilization stays on track, the water enters over the top plate and drops into the wall cavity.
Talk with a restoration specialist
Describe the source, the impacted rooms, and when you first noticed the damage.
Areas we serve
With a crew geared up, identify your state to reach restoration assessment, extraction, cleanup, and drying service in your area.
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