Is it Risky to Remove Snow from My Roof?

Winter is coming. Soon enough, we will swap cool drinks for hot chocolate and suit up in our warm gear before we head out the door. Here in Utah, winter means snow on our driveways and roads. It also means snow on our roofs.

So what do you do when the snow piles up on top of your house? Ignore it and watch another Hallmark movie? (Won’t the snow just melt anyway?) Or get out there with your snowsuit and ladder and risk your life to be a snow-clearing hero?

If you’re weighing these options, this article is for you.

Why Remove Snow?

Snowfall looks beautiful and provides all kinds of family fun–from building snowmen to skiing Utah’s slopes. But although snow accumulation on a roof might look pretty, it causes increased structural stress to your home. Uncleared snow on your roof can lead to collapses, leaks, or ice dams.

An ice dam is where the snow melts first on the warmer areas of the roof and later freezes near the eaves, preventing proper drainage. An untreated ice dam can lead to substantial water damage inside your home.

If snow is carefully removed from your home before these complications occur, you can be sure that your family and home remain safe and secure.

Do I Need to Remove Snow After Every Storm?

In Utah, you could be up on your roof all the time if you tried to remove snow after every storm.
Here’s the scoop. The right time to clear your roof depends on different factors, including the amount of snowfall and the design and integrity of your roof.

Snow can get heavy, even the soft, powdery kind. So when you get several inches, it’s a good idea to get rid of it. Otherwise, it could stress the structure of your roof. If you have a flat roof, this is particularly important. A sloped roof will distribute the weight of the snow better, but it can still weaken under the stress of heavy snow buildup.

If your roof is old or has not been well maintained, it’s especially important to keep it free of snow accumulation. Otherwise, you could end up with leaks and water damage that could seep into the interior of your home.

Also, watch for thickening ice around the perimeter of your roof that could indicate an ice dam has formed. Because water can’t get over the ice dam to drain off of the home, it will likely refreeze, leading to a bigger ridge of ice on the edges of your roof. Signs of an ice dam may include:

  • Water isn’t draining through gutters
  • Icicles are forming (with water trapped behind them)
  • Water damage inside the home (watch for leaks, water spots on the ceilings or walls, etc.)
  • Ice on the exterior of your home (such as beneath the siding or behind the soffit)

It is better to be safe than sorry, so if you aren’t sure, be cautious and get your roof cleared as a priority.

The Risks of DIY Snow Removal

The Risks to You:

It can be tempting to tackle snow removal yourself. However, any roofing project can be hazardous, and this is even more true for snow removal due to the icy conditions and freezing temperatures.

There are physical dangers, such as:

  • Slips and Falls. Getting up on your roof (or up on a tall ladder to access your roof) is always risky, but this risk is greater on slick ice. Once you have made it up your ladder, maintaining your footing will be even more challenging if you have a steep-pitched roof.
  • Muscle or Joint Strain. The repetitive motion of shoveling and the stress of hefting snow can easily injure your shoulder or back.
  • Physical Exertion. Clearing snow is a labor-intensive job. You know how tough it is to clear paths and driveways, and doing this job up on a roof is just as physically strenuous, with the added complications of keeping your balance up high and making sure you are clearing safely below. Your heart rate climbs due to physical effort, but because the cold blood vessels constrict, it reduces blood flow. This can lead to dizziness and shortness of breath, which are very dangerous to deal with from a height.
  • Hypothermia. Clearing snow from a rooftop is a long and strenuous task. You can quickly lose track of time while you’re sweating up there. Without proper protection, you are at risk of frostbite on your fingers and toes. Sweating due to exertion in the cold might lead to chills and potentially severe complications, such as hypothermia.

The Risks to Your Home:

Not only does DIY snow removal pose risks to you, but it can also hurt your home. Shoveling or raking too close to a roof surface can cause significant damage to your shingles. Accidentally lifting even a single shingle corner could cause breakages, and as the snow and ice melt, water would get under the broken shingles and into your home.

You’ll need to hold your rake or shovel at just the right angle and use enough power to move the snow, but not so much that you scrape the roof. You’ll also need to work carefully around the gutters to avoid dinging them or knocking them out of place.

When to Call in the Pros

A professional roof snow and ice removal company is always a safe bet. If you have several inches of snow on the roof of your home or business, calling in the pros can give you peace of mind. They can use state-of-the-art equipment (including steam machines for getting rid of ice dams) to clear snow without harming your roof or gutters.

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