Today

An ice dam

Water behind the dam backs up under the shingles and into the wall each time the sun hits it. The leak is now. The cause is your attic, and that fix is for spring.

What is probably happening

Warm air from the house is leaking into the attic, melting the snow from underneath. The meltwater refreezes at the cold eaves and builds a ridge of ice that holds a pool of water against the roof.
Minnesota's Department of Commerce puts it plainly: the real problem is a home that is leaking warm air.
Icicles along the gutter line, water stains on the ceiling near an exterior wall, and ice in the soffit vents are the usual picture.

Do this in the next five minutes

Put a bucket under any drip and photograph the stain and the ice from the ground.
If you have a roof rake, pull snow off the lowest 3 to 4 feet of roof from the ground. Do not get on a ladder to do it.
For an active leak, book an ice dam removal company that uses steam. Minnesota Commerce says to use a professional with steamers.
Note where the drip is. In spring, that is where an air-sealing contractor starts.
In spring, get an energy audit with an infrared camera, then bids for attic air sealing and insulation. Minnesota's target is a minimum of R-50.

Do not

Do not chip, hack or hammer the ice. Minnesota Commerce: 'Do not remove ice with chippers, chemicals or heat. These can damage shingles, gutters and other building components.'
Do not throw salt or ice melt on the roof. It corrodes the gutters and kills the plants below.
Do not climb onto a snowy roof or lean a ladder against an iced gutter.
Do not accept heat cables as the cure. They manage the symptom. The cure is air sealing, insulation and ventilation (Building America Solution Center).

Who to call

A steam ice dam removal service now, a roofer only if shingles or flashing are damaged

Removal is a specialty. The long-term fix is an insulation and air-sealing contractor, not a new roof. A roofer is for the shingles the ice lifted.

Also: Water damage. If water has run into the wall or ceiling for more than a few hours, call restoration. Drying within 24 to 48 hours keeps mold out of the job. Questions for that call ›

Get a free shortlist The seven questions for this trade

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What it should cost

$650 to $2,400

Ice dam removal, typical national range, average $1,200. Steam removal $800 to $2,400. Labor $150 to $700 per hour.

Source: Angi, ice dam removal cost, updated July 2026. View source

National published range, not a quote for your job. The full cost table for this trade is on the roofing page.

Ask this contractor, on the phone, before anyone comes out

Tap each one as you ask it.

Do you use low-pressure steam, or a pressure washer or hot water? Only steam is gentle on shingles.
What is the hourly rate and the estimated hours for my roof?
Will you photograph any shingle or gutter damage you find so I can show a roofer?
Can you tell from the ice pattern where my attic is leaking heat?

End the call if

A crew with hammers, chisels or a pressure washer.
A roofer who quotes a new roof for an ice dam. The roof is not the cause.

Insurance. Weight of ice, snow or sleet and the sudden water damage from an ice dam are generally covered under the broader standard forms (III). The attic air sealing that prevents the next one is a home improvement and is not.

Where this comes from

Not my problem, tap through instead Every roofing answer