A ridge of ice sits along the eave above the gutter
Before materials deteriorate further, that ridge is the dam itself, and meltwater is pooling behind it.
Source of the water
New Hampshire
Our property-protection team addresses water entering beneath roof materials, then dries attic insulation, framing, walls, and ceilings affected by the leak.
Signs to look for
With damage contained, if you notice any of these problems, call us before water has more time to spread into nearby materials.
Before materials deteriorate further, that ridge is the dam itself, and meltwater is pooling behind it.
Before materials deteriorate further, icicles mean water is running down a warm roof and freezing at a cold edge.
As our controlled response continues, ice dam water enters over the top plate and drops into the corner.
To protect the property, the wall cavity carries the water down to the first thing that blocks it, which is a window head.
To protect the property, the snow needs to melt before there is any water to leak.
Before materials deteriorate further, heat escaping into the attic melts snow over the heated part of the house.
What happens
Our property-protection team adjusts the work to what got wet, how far the water traveled, and which materials can be saved.
As our controlled response continues, wet ceiling boxes and can lights mean the circuit gets shut off from a dry location.
With damage contained, steam removal is the correct method, and we coordinate a crew that has the equipment.
As our controlled response continues, a moisture meter runs the full length of every exterior wall in the affected room, not just the stained part.
As our controlled response continues, baseboard or window casing comes off and small access holes let us read and dry inside the cavity.
Before materials deteriorate further, compacted or soaked material at the perimeter comes out in place and gets replaced with a measured R value.
With damage contained, the house stays heated, the wet cavity gets contained, and air movers work into the openings with an Professional dehumidifier on the room.
Talk with a restoration specialist
Describe the source, the impacted rooms, and when you first noticed the damage.
What to expect
To protect the property, here is how we usually handle ice dam leak cleanup near New Hampshire.
With damage contained, ice ridge, icicles, snow depth and which side of the house it is on.
Your callTo protect the property, take pictures of the eave from the ground while the ice is still there.
+5 minutesAs our controlled response continues, sealed work area, drying equipment and the steam contact get lined up together.
+15 minutesAs our controlled response continues, we record the dam, the icicles, the gutter condition and every interior stain with dates.
On arrivalAs our controlled response continues, steam opens channels through the dam so water drains off the roof instead of backing up under the shingles.
First hours on siteBefore materials deteriorate further, readings run the full exterior wall length, the ceiling perimeter and both sides of every window head.
First hours on siteBefore materials deteriorate further, swollen window casing, failed board and soaked blown in insulation at the eave are removed and logged.
Day 1Understanding the cost
With damage contained, we explain the recommended work and price before you approve the job. With damage contained, these examples show what may change the estimate.
| Common situation | What the estimate may include | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Steam ice dam removal at the eave, by a specialty crew | To protect the property, national estimate. | $400 to $1,500 |
| Interior cleanup after one ice dam leak, one room dried in place | As our controlled response continues, national estimate for perimeter ceiling and wall drying with trim removal, no demolition. | $600 to $2,000 |
| Several eaves leaking, multiple rooms with removal and drying | Before materials deteriorate further, national estimate including wet insulation removal, drywall sections and five to seven drying days. | $3,000 to $9,000 |
| Wet attic or perimeter insulation removal and disposal, per square foot | To protect the property, national estimate for extraction, bagging and disposal of soaked material. | $1.00 to $2.50 |
| Perimeter drywall removal with cavity drying, per square foot | With damage contained, national estimate for removal, disposal and drying of the opened assembly. | $1.50 to $4.00 |
| Attic air sealing and insulation top up, by an insulation contractor | To protect the property, national estimate for sealing attic bypasses and bringing depth back to code. To protect the property, this is the fix, not the cleanup. | $1,200 to $4,000 |
| Heat cable installed at the eave and in the gutter, by a contractor | National estimate for a separate trade, not part of our cleanup protection plan. It manages symptoms on a problem eave and adds a power bill each winter. | $600 to $2,500 |
| After hours or overnight dispatch charge | With damage contained, national estimate for nights, weekends and holidays, billed once rather than per hour. | $100 to $400 nationally |
How many eaves are leaking
As our controlled response continues, one dam over one room is a contained job.
How far the water ran along the wall
Before materials deteriorate further, water spreads sideways on the top plate before it drops. Before materials deteriorate further, a four foot stain frequently means fifteen feet of wet cavity.
Whether the ice has to be removed first
With damage contained, steam removal is its own contractor visit and is usually billed hourly. As our controlled response continues, it is not optional while water is still backing up.
How much ceiling, wall and trim has to come out
With damage contained, board that can be dried in place costs a fraction of what removal and rebuild cost.
Insulation type and depth at the perimeter
To protect the property, blown in material at the eave has to be extracted rather than lifted out.
Cold weather drying days
Before materials deteriorate further, air movers run roughly $25 to $40 per unit per day and Professional dehumidifiers roughly $70 to $110 per unit per day.
Why timing matters
As our controlled response continues, water can keep moving into nearby materials even when the surface looks dry.
Before materials deteriorate further, one warm afternoon and one cold night is all it takes to make more ice.
Before materials deteriorate further, shingles shed running water, they do not hold standing water.
To protect the property, soaked material at the eave stops insulating, so more heat reaches the roof deck and more snow melts.
As our controlled response continues, framing at 35 degrees releases moisture very slowly.
Helpful service information
To protect the property, start with the short explanation. As our controlled response continues, open a card if you want a little more detail.
As our controlled response continues, heat leaking from the house warms the roof deck over the living space.
As our controlled response continues, the physics here are simple and they explain everything about where the water shows up.
To protect the property, ice dams form where heat loss is concentrated, so they come back in the same place until that path is closed.
Before materials deteriorate further, recurrence is the part that matters for your money. To protect the property, ice dams form where heat loss is concentrated, so they come back in the same place until that path is closed.
To protect the property, it enters over the top plate at the outside wall, so the first wet materials are the ceiling perimeter and the top of the wall cavity.
To protect the property, inside the building, ice dam water behaves unlike any other leak we handle. To protect the property, it enters over the top plate at the outside wall, so the first wet materials are the ceiling perimeter and the top of the wall cavity.
Help near you
Choose your area below, or call (844) 606-0362 and describe what happened.
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Get a Quote: (844) 606-0362Common questions
To protect the property, heat escaping into your attic melts snow on the upper roof. As our controlled response continues, that water runs down and refreezes at the cold overhang, building a ridge of ice.
With damage contained, nationally, one room dried in place usually runs about $600 to $2,000. To protect the property, several leaking eaves with removal typically run $3,000 to $9,000.
With damage contained, usually yes for the interior damage, because it is treated as sudden weather damage. Before materials deteriorate further, many carriers also reimburse ice removal as mitigation.
Before materials deteriorate further, no. To protect the property, do not chip, hammer, chisel or pressure wash ice on a roof, and do not put a ladder against an icy building.
With damage contained, a roof rake used from the ground is reasonable for pulling snow off the lower roof.
Before materials deteriorate further, low pressure steam is the correct method and it is what the specialty crews use.
Before materials deteriorate further, the water enters over the top plate and drops into the wall cavity. As our controlled response continues, it runs down the framing until something blocks it, and a window head is the first thing that does.
Talk with a restoration specialist
Describe the source, the impacted rooms, and when you first noticed the damage.
Areas we serve
Our property-protection team inspect and protect homes, businesses, and managed properties throughout New Hampshire and nearby communities.
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