Ice Dam Removal/Bozeman, Montana
Steam it off. Do not chip at it.
Low-pressure steam melts a channel through the dam and lets the rest release on its own. No chisels, no hammers, no hatchets, no pressure washer on your shingles.
What’s included
- Emergency response through the winter
- Low-pressure steam, roof-safe temperatures
- Channels cut through the dam so water can drain
- Ice cleared from gutters and downspout mouths
- Icicle removal over entries and walkways
- Snow removal from the lower roof where needed
- Photos of the roof edge and any damage found
- Plain-language notes on what caused it
How we do it
- You call, we triageWater actively coming inside moves to the front of the line. If it is icicles with no interior leak, we will tell you honestly that it can wait a few days and schedule accordingly.
- Clear the snow load above the damRemoving the snow feeding the dam matters as much as removing the dam. Otherwise it rebuilds in a week.
- Steam channels through the iceLow-pressure steam melts vertical channels at intervals along the dam. Water drains, the pressure behind the ice releases, and the remaining ice loses its grip instead of being levered off.
- Clear the drainage pathGutters and downspout mouths get opened so the melt has somewhere to go. A cleared roof edge draining into a solid block of gutter ice has not solved much.
Why this is a Bozeman problem specifically
Ice dams need a particular combination: snow on the roof, a roof surface above freezing in the middle, and an eave below freezing. The valley delivers that combination repeatedly.
Sun and cold together. Bright high-altitude sun warms a snow-covered roof even on days that never get above freezing. Meltwater runs down, hits the eave that overhangs unheated air, and freezes. Then it happens again the next day.
Freeze-thaw cycling. Big daily temperature swings mean the melt-refreeze cycle runs far more often here than in places with steadier cold.
Heat loss into the attic. The actual cause in most houses. Recessed lights, bath fans venting into the attic, a leaky attic hatch, or thin insulation over an addition — all of it warms the deck from below and melts snow from underneath.
Which is why every ice dam call ends with us telling you what we saw. Removing the ice is the emergency. Fixing the heat loss is what stops next year.
What to do before we get there
If water is coming in: put down buckets and towels, move what you can out from under it, and if the ceiling is bulging with trapped water, a small hole at the low point lets it drain in one place instead of spreading through the drywall. Photograph everything for your insurer.
Do not get on the roof, chip at the ice, throw salt tablets or pantyhose full of ice melt onto the shingles, or let anyone attack it with a hammer, hatchet or pressure washer. Every one of those damages shingles, and the roof damage routinely costs more than the water damage would have.
What drives the price
We quote every property individually rather than publishing a flat rate, because these six things change the number more than anything else. Nothing on your invoice will differ from the written quote.
- Linear feet of damThe main driver — how much roof edge is affected.
- Ice thicknessA two-inch ridge and a foot-thick dam are very different amounts of steam time.
- Access & heightSecond-story eaves, steep pitches and deep snow around the house all add setup.
- Snow removal neededClearing the snow load above the dam is often part of the job.
- UrgencySame-day emergency response during an active leak is priced differently than scheduled work.
- Gutter iceGutters and downspouts frozen solid take additional steam time.
Common questions
How fast can you get here?
During an active interior leak we prioritize you. In the middle of a valley-wide freeze-thaw event everyone calls the same week, so the honest answer is that response times stretch — which is the argument for heat tape before the season rather than emergency calls during it.
Will steaming damage my shingles?
No. Steam at roof-safe temperature and low pressure melts ice without disturbing the granules. What damages shingles is chipping, chiseling, and high-pressure water.
Why not just use a pressure washer?
Pressure high enough to break ice is well past what strips granules from asphalt shingles. It works, it is faster, and it shortens the life of your roof. Steam melts rather than breaks.
Will the dam come back?
If nothing changes, yes — usually within a couple of weeks in an active winter. Removal is the emergency fix. Air sealing and insulating the attic addresses the cause, and heat tape keeps a drainage path open where the attic fix is not practical.
Is this covered by insurance?
Interior water damage from an ice dam often is; the removal itself frequently is not. Policies vary a lot. Photograph everything and call your agent early — we can provide photos and a written scope for the claim.
Often booked together
Free quote/No obligation
Tell us what needs cleaning.
Most quotes go back out within one business day. If it’s an ice dam, call instead — (406) 404-9963.