Ice Dam Removal Near Winnipeg & Throughout Manitoba
Do you have an ice dam emergency in Winnipeg or in a nearby community in Manitoba? Call the Ice Dam Guys® at 1-800-423-3267 (800-423-3267) for same-day/next-day ice dam removal in southern Manitoba. We’ve removed thousands of ice dams since 1995 and are the top-rated ice dam removal company in North America! We are properly licensed, bonded, and insured. En savoir plus en français canadien.
In Manitoba, infamous for its cold winters akin to those in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana, ice dams can be a common challenge. The province’s central location and “lake effect snow” from Lake Winnipeg produce heavy storms with long-lasting snow and incredibly cold temperatures. In fact, Winnipeg is notorious for being one of the coldest places in Canada during winter with wind chills taking the region down to –40 °C.
Thankfully for you, the ice dam removal experts at Ice Dam Guys® have lost all feeling in our fingers and toes decades ago, so we’re ready to help! When you’ve been on thousands of roofs across North America since 1995, it’s bound to happen. Jokes aside, our team is fully licensed, bonded, and insured, so you won’t have to worry about us when we’re on your roof. And after discovering an ice dam emergency, we think you’ll need the break!
Why Do I Have Ice Dams?
Ice dams develop primarily due to a combination of heavy snowfall and unnatural or erratic temperature variations on the roof. Here’s how the process typically works:
Snow Accumulation
The first step in the formation of an ice dam is the accumulation of snow on the roof. This usually occurs during periods of heavy snowfall for your region, which will usually be the bigger storms or blizzards each year.
Uneven Roof Temperatures
For an ice dam to form, there needs to be a temperature differential on the roof surface — warm in some areas and cold in others. The higher portions of the roof tend to be warmer than the edges. This temperature difference is often due to heat escaping from the house into the attic, which then warms the roof above. Poor attic insulation and attic bypasses that leak warm air exacerbate this issue, allowing more heat to escape to the roof.
Melting and Refreezing
The snow on the warmer part of the roof (usually the top or near the ridge) melts and flows down towards the colder edge of the roof (eaves). When this water reaches the colder edge, it refreezes, forming a dam of ice. This is made worse if your gutters are already clogged prior to the storm. When gutters are clogged, even snowmelt has a hard time exiting the roof, so it begins to pool on the roof’s eaves. This adds more water to the problem which becomes more ice!
Formation of Ice Dams
As this cycle continues — melting from the warm roof and refreezing at the cold eaves — the ice builds up and forms a dam. This dam can grow large enough to hold back the water pooling behind it, creating a reservoir of liquid water. This is when you can sustain interior damages such as water leaks and ceiling collapses.
Potential for Damage
This standing water can seep under the shingles and into the structure of the house, potentially causing damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas. Keep in mind anywhere that gets soaked or saturated will also need to be checked and monitored for mold. In addition to causing water damage, ice dams can also create a weight burden on the roof and gutters, potentially leading to structural issues.
To prevent ice dams, it’s important to ensure adequate attic insulation and ventilation, which helps maintain a more uniform roof temperature, and to remove snow from the roof after heavy snowfalls if it’s safe to do so. Keep in mind that ice dam removal is not a solution to the underlying issue. You need to seek a professional home energy audit to identify the specific bypasses and issues.
Steam-Only Ice Dam Removal Near Winnipeg
Since 1995, the Ice Dam Guys® have been scaling icy roofs and refining our ice dam removal techniques. Through years of tinkering and trials, we determined that the most effective and safe method to remove ice dams is by using 100% steam. In fact, we were so confident about this approach that we developed our own specialized steam machine, Steamzilla™, to enhance this process.
The advantage of using pure steam for ice dam removal is its safety and gentleness on the homeowner’s roof. Our method avoids any abrasive techniques, ensuring that the roofing materials are not damaged by excessive heat or friction. The process our technicians use is akin to a hot knife smoothly cutting through butter. They skillfully break down the ice dam into smaller, manageable sections for removal. Below, you’ll find a photo demonstrating this precise ‘slice and dice’ technique.
The old adage “A picture is worth a thousand words” rings especially true here. The photo above illustrates the effectiveness of using 100% steam for ice dam removal so well. This method is not only gentle on your home but also relatively quick under the freezing circumstances at removing the ice dam from your roof.
Ice Dam Guys®: Manitoba’s Ice Dam Experts
For more than a quarter-century, homeowners and businesses across North America have relied on the Ice Dam Guys® for emergency ice dam removal needs. This trust stems from our commitment to professionalism and protecting your home, as we are fully licensed, bonded, and carry comprehensive General Liability insurance to safeguard our clients. Thanks to decades of success and solid relationships with customers, we’ve expanded our services to include Southern Manitoba and its local communities. When the next snowstorm strikes, you’ll find our team ready to assist in the following towns:
Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, Steinbach, Thompson, Winkler, and Winnipeg.
If you’d like to hear from our past customers, please visit us online at our various review platforms. We wanted to make it easy for you to learn about us, so we put nearly 20 websites in one easy to find place. Only a company with a long-history of doing what’s right for the customer could do something like that!
At the end of the day, you called us because you were having a problem that threatened the well-being of your home. Let us take care of it, so you can go back to enjoying your home without the threat of ice and leaks ruining your winter…and your wallet!
Call us now at 1-800-ICE-DAMS for same-day / next-day ice dam removal for your Winnipeg-area home.
