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Icicles A Big Concern For Chicago-Area Homeowners

(CBS) --Icicles may be pretty but they can also be a big concern.

CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports if icicles are hanging from your roof top, you need to check the inside of your home to make sure you don't have any damage.

Elias Vargas has seen icicles hanging from his gutter in past winters, but rarely this big and this thick.

Vargas is worried it might do something to the house and is sharing his concerns with roofer Ryan Lyndholm, whose company specializes in removing ice and snow from roof tops, but only when necessary.

"What you don't want to see is bubbling paint, discoloration, water coming in and you're more likely to see that along the outside edge of the house," said Lyndholm.

Also, check the attic for water stains. If it's possible to reach the roof top with an extended broom knock down the icicles and brush the snow off.

"You just need to clear the edge of the roof. If you clear the unheated overhang that should alleviate your problem," Lyndholm told Vargas.

But if you can't reach the roof, it's best to call a professional, which could cost several hundred dollars. But the good news is that in the Chicago area, most homes are built to take the snow and ice.

"We see hundreds of these types of scenarios every winter. Our experience tells us that this is going to go away. We can tell this isn't going to cause structural issues," said Lyndholm.

When the snow melts, those icicles are heavy and dangerous. It is best to knock them down before they fall and be careful walking under them.

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