EAST AURORA, N.Y. (WKBW) — It doesn’t matter where you live in Western New York right now, huge icicles and wet snow are weighing down gutters and roofs.
“The ice dams are pretty thick,” said William Spahn with S&K Prowash. “There some of the worst we’ve seen in years.”
Experts say the ice dams are frozen on the outside but warm on the inside, and the water can creep into your home. Spahn says he’s seen many customers dealing with severe water issues this winter.
Anatoliy Aponchuk owns Ava Roofing. On Wednesday, his crews were busy replacing a roof after extreme water damage cause by ice and snow buildup.
Aponchuk says some homeowners should try to remove the snow from a roof as soon as it falls to make sure it doesn’t freeze over. This can be done without having to go up on the roof by purchasing a roof rake online.
“When it’s snowing, just go and take some off so when it slides down it doesn’t freeze over,” he said.
On a new roof, it’s recommended to add heating coils around the edges so freezing doesn’t happen. You can get them professionally installed or do it yourself starting around $130.
If you find yourself in a bind, experts say leave it to the professionals.
“Do not chisel. I strongly recommend against that,” Spahn said.
Spahn says chiseling can cause major roof damage down the line.
Professionals recommend a hot steaming service to take care of the snow and ice. It can cost anywhere from $450 on up.
