Experts: Don't Go On Roof To Clear Snow
CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Chicago-area roofers are busy with roofing emergencies caused by the Blizzard of 2011.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Regine Schlesinger reports, Chicagoland Roofing Council executive director Bill McHugh says homeowners face potential damage from the snow piled on their roofs.
So clearing the snow is a must. But the Roofing Council says you shouldn't risk slipping by trying to get on the roof and do it yourself.
The council suggests either using a roof shovel – which can be found at a hardware store – or calling a professional to get the snow off.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Regine Schlesinger reports
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But what if you just leave the snow there? That can mean a risk of damage.
The greatest problem, according to McHugh, is ice dams that form when heat from inside the house melts the snow on top.
"What happens is the snow runs towards the gutter edge, and starts freezing when it gets to the cold area outside the inside wall, and as those dams build up and the nice icicles form on the edge of the roof, the water actually starts going backwards, up underneath the shingles, and into the structure," McHugh said.
Ted Piton of Matthews Roofing says homeowners can fill a sock with calcium chloride and lay that object perpendicular to the edge of the gutter. That will help route water off the roof.
Another area of concern is the dryer vent on the side of your home. Piton recommends keeping the vent dry and clear of moisture to avoid freezing and the trapping of potentially dangerous gas.
