Header Form

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

How Much Does Ice Dam Removal Cost In 2025?

Posted on January 23, 2025

Estimated Reading Time : 6 Min.

Share Now :

ice dam removal cost

When winter brings heavy snowfall, many homeowners face the challenging problem of ice dams on their roofs. As a homeowner, understanding the costs and options for ice dam removal helps you make smart decisions about protecting your home. 

Most homeowners spend between $650 and $2,000 on professional ice dam removal services, with the national average hovering around $1,200. However, these numbers only tell part of the story. 

At BRH Enterprises, LLC, we are your trusted local roofers in Wisconsin. In this complete guide, we will discuss everything you need to know about ice dam removal costs and help you choose the most effective solution for your situation.

How Do Ice Dams Form, And How Do They Impact Your Roof?

Ice dams appear when the snow melts on the warmer sections of your roof and then refreezes at the colder edges. This process creates a barrier of ice that prevents proper drainage, causing water to pool behind it. 

The trapped water often finds its way under your shingles and into your home, leading to serious structural damage and expensive repairs.

The damage from ice dams extends far beyond just your roof. When water seeps into your home, it can soak your insulation, reducing its effectiveness and increasing your heating costs. The moisture can also result in mold growth in your walls and attic, which creates potential health hazards for your family. 

Also, the weight of ice dams can strain your gutters, causing them to sag or break away from your house. The freeze-thaw cycle associated with ice dams can also force water under your shingles, leading to rotted roof decking and damaged interior walls and ceilings.

4 Professional Ice Dam Removal Methods And Their Costs

Ice dam removal methods

Professional ice dam removal companies use a few different methods, and each one comes with its own advantages and price point.

Understanding these methods helps you choose the most appropriate solution for your situation.

#1 Steam Ice Dam Removal

Steam removal represents the gold standard in professional ice dam removal. This method costs between $800 and $2,400, with most jobs falling around $1,500. 

Professional roofers use specialized equipment that heats water to approximately 290 degrees, creating low-pressure steam that effectively melts the ice without damaging your roof materials. 

The process generally takes between two to four hours, depending on the size and thickness of the ice dams. While steam removal costs more than other methods, it provides the safest and most thorough solution, especially for severe ice dam problems.

#2 Ice Dam Removal With Pressure Washer

Another way to remove ice dams is by using a pressure washer. While it’s an affordable way to remove ice from your roofs and gutters, we recommend you be gentle if you do it by yourself.

Generally, removing ice dams with pressure washers costs $400 to $2,000. This method uses hot water under controlled pressure to break down and remove the ice dams from your roof. 

As we’ve mentioned already, this approach requires careful handling to avoid damaging your roof shingles. The process usually takes between two to five hours, and you may need multiple attempts for particularly stubborn ice dams. 

#3 Manual Ice Dam Removal

Manual ice chipping costs between $800 and $1,800 and involves physically breaking away the ice using specialized tools.

While this method costs less in terms of equipment, it requires more labor time and carries a higher risk of roof damage. 

Professionals generally use this method for small, localized ice dams or situations where other methods are impractical.

#4 Calcium Chloride Or Ice Dam Salt

The most affordable professional treatment involves using calcium chloride or similar ice-melting products, costing between $200 and $300. 

This approach works well for small ice buildup, but it requires multiple treatments and may not effectively address larger ice dams. 

However, it provides a good option for preventing ice dam formation when applied early in the season.

Also Read: Top 5 Products to Help You Get Rid of Ice Dams

What Are The Factors That Affect The Cost Of Ice Dam Removal?

Now that you have an idea of how much different ice dam removal methods can cost, here are some important things that affect the overall ice dam removal cost for your home. Understanding these factors will help you better anticipate and budget for the service.

#1 Size And Layout Of Your Home

Your home’s size and roof structure play an important role in determining costs. 

Single-story homes with simple roof designs generally cost less, with prices ranging from $200 to $800, depending on square footage. 

Multi-story homes need more effort and safety measures, pushing the costs higher, mostly between $600 and $4,000.

#2 Severity Of The Ice Dams

The severity of your ice dam problem significantly impacts removal costs. Minor ice dams, measuring 1 to 3 inches thick and extending up to 10 feet, generally cost between $200 and $600 to remove. 

In moderate cases, with ice 3 to 6 inches thick and spanning 10 to 20 feet, run between $600 and $1,500. 

Severe ice dams, measuring over 6 inches thick and extending beyond 20 feet, can cost $1,500 to $4,000 or more to address properly.

#3 Accessibility To Your Roof

Accessibility to your roof also affects pricing. Easy-access situations where professionals can work from the ground or using standard ladders generally incur base rates.

However, difficult access requires specialized equipment and significant obstacles can increase costs significantly. 

Weather conditions during removal and regional pricing variations also influence final costs.

DIY vs. Professional Ice Dam Removal: How To Make A Right Choice

While attempting to remove ice dams yourself may look like a money-saving option, the potential risks and hidden costs often outweigh the initial savings. 

When you choose professional ice dam removal services, they bring the proper equipment, required experience, and insurance coverage to protect both their workers and your home.

When you try removing ice dams by yourself, it can actually result in incomplete treatment, which allows ice dams to reform quickly. 

Additionally, improper techniques can damage your roof shingles, possibly voiding your warranty and leading to expensive repairs.

Most importantly, working on an icy roof poses serious safety risks, potentially resulting in injuries and medical expenses that far exceed professional removal costs.

How To Prevent Ice Dams On Your Roof

Preventing ice dams is more economical than repeatedly paying for removal services. A comprehensive prevention strategy includes a few simple practices that work together to protect your home.

Regular maintenance is the first and foremost thing that you should consider to prevent ice dams. 

👉 Professional roof snow removal services cost between $250 and $500 per visit, and they can help prevent ice dam formation by removing snow before it can melt and refreeze. 

👉 Annual gutter cleaning generally costs around $100 to $400, ensures proper drainage, and reduces the risk of ice dams. To avoid debris buildup in your gutters, you can also consider installing gutter guards. 

👉 Make sure that your attic is properly insulated, as a well-insulated attic prevents the heat from escaping through your roof and causing snow to melt unevenly. It generally costs between $1,500 and $6,000 to insulate an attic. 

👉 Also, installing adequate ventilation, which runs between $500 and $3,000, helps maintain consistent roof temperatures. 

👉 If you live in a region where it snows heavily and regularly, you can consider adding heating cables on your roof and in your gutters. This can cost you anywhere between $500 to $1,500 to install and provide targeted prevention.

Do Insurance Policies Provide Coverage For Ice Dams?

Most home insurance policies don’t cover removing ice dams from your roof. Insurance companies see ice dams as something you can prevent with proper home maintenance, so they usually won’t cover the removal costs.

Regular home maintenance is generally not covered, just as insurance doesn’t pay for cleaning your gutters, it won’t pay for ice dam removal.

However, there’s good news if an ice dam damages your home. If water from ice dams leaks into your house and ruins your walls, ceiling, or belongings, your insurance might help pay for those repairs. 

For example, if water seeps through your roof and damages your bedroom ceiling, insurance would likely cover fixing the ceiling and any water-damaged items in your room.

To be safe, you should call your insurance company and ask exactly what they cover. Every insurance policy is different, and knowing what’s covered before you have a problem helps you plan for the future.

Schedule Professional Ice Dam Removal For Your Home In Wisconsin

At BRH Enterprises, LLC, we are your local roofing professionals, and we are here to help you with all your roofing needs. Our team can safely remove ice dams from your roof, and we will also assist you in addressing any minor problem caused by ice dams with our professional roof repair

We understand that roofs are an important investment in your property, and we work with proper techniques and precision. 

Trust us as your reliable roofing company in Mayville and the surrounding areas in Wisconsin. To get a free estimate or for a no-obligation discussion with our professionals, feel free to call us today at (920) 249-4228.

BRH Enterprises
Skip to content