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Serving the 607 — Broome & Tioga County(607) 765-5401
BRBing RoofsBinghamton Remodeling Solutions
Home / Ice Dam Removal

Ice dam on your roof? We steam it off safely.

Water dripping inside during a thaw usually means an ice dam. We remove it with steam — no chipping, no shingle damage — and then fix why it formed. Fast winter help across the Southern Tier.

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Already seeing water inside? Call now — it gets worse fast.

A stain on the ceiling today can mean soaked insulation, rotted framing, and mold by spring. Move your belongings, catch the water, snap a few photos for insurance, and call (607) 765-5401. Please don't climb an icy roof or ladder yourself — it's one of the most dangerous jobs there is.

// Ice dams, explained

What an ice dam is — and why it leaks

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms along the edge of your roof and stops melting snow from draining off. Water pools behind the dam, works its way up under the shingles, and finds its way into the roof deck, attic, walls, and ceilings.

Here's the part most homeowners miss: an ice dam isn't really a weather problem, it's a heat problem that starts inside the house. Warm air escaping into the attic heats the underside of the roof and melts the bottom of the snow layer. That meltwater runs down to the cold eaves — which aren't warmed from below — and refreezes. Do that over and over and the ice ridge grows.

Why the Southern Tier gets hit so hard

Binghamton and the surrounding 607 get roughly 70–80 inches of snow a year — well above the U.S. average — with long, cold, cloudy winters and constant freeze-thaw swings. Add the older, under-insulated attics common in Windsor, Vestal, Endicott, and Johnson City, and ice dams become a question of when, not if.

Roof & gutter damage

Water backs up under shingles and loosens them; heavy ice bends and tears gutters right off the fascia.

Attic & ceilings

Meltwater soaks insulation (killing its R-value) and stains or collapses ceilings, walls, and trim.

Mold & rot

Trapped moisture rots framing and breeds mold — a health issue and an expensive one, months after the leak.

// Safe removal

We steam. We don't chip.

There's a right way and a wrong way to get an ice dam off a roof. The wrong way creates leaks that show up months later.

Low-pressure steam

The gold standard. Steam melts channels through the ice and undercuts the dam so it slides off — without harming shingles or flashing.

We stop the active leak first

Priority one is getting the water out of your house, then clearing the dam and checking for damage underneath.

Please don't try this yourself

Never chip or hammer the ice

It cracks shingles, dents flashing, and strips granules — turning one leak into several.

Never use rock salt

It corrodes shingles and metal and kills the landscaping below. Only calcium-chloride ice melt is roof-safe.

Snow-covered winter roofline in the Southern Tier, prone to ice dams Southern Tier winter · ice-dam season
// The real fix

Stop paying for the same emergency every winter

Removal handles the crisis. Prevention handles the cause. The permanent cure is keeping your roof deck cold and evenly cold — in this order.

1

Air seal the attic

Seal the leaks around lights, the attic hatch, and pipes so warm house air stops warming the roof. The highest-leverage fix.

2

Add insulation

Bring attic insulation up to spec for our climate so heat stays in the living space where it belongs.

3

Balance ventilation

Soffit-to-ridge airflow keeps the deck cold and even, so snow doesn't melt and refreeze at the eaves.

4

Protect the eaves

Ice-and-water shield at the eaves and valleys is your waterproof backup if a dam ever forms again.

Heat cables can keep a drainage channel open, but they're a stopgap — not a cure. Book a fall roof-and-attic assessment and we'll fix the actual cause before the first freeze.

Book a prevention assessment
// Ice dams & insurance

Some of this may be covered

Standard homeowners policies often cover the sudden interior and roof water damage an ice dam causes — ceilings, walls, insulation — as long as you report it promptly and the roof was in good shape. The cost of removing the dam itself is usually treated as maintenance and isn't covered.

We'll document the damage with photos and a detailed estimate you can submit, and we'll meet your adjuster on-site. As always in New York, we don't negotiate your settlement or waive deductibles — we just make sure the damage is fully and accurately documented.

How our insurance help works →

Bing Roofs inspecting roof damage for an insurance claim
// Winter help

Get ice-dam help fast

Leaking now, or want to prevent it before the next storm? Send us your info and we'll call or text right back. For active leaks, calling is fastest.

Emergency? Call or text (607) 765-5401 now.

Request ice-dam help

We call or text back within one business hour.

No spam, no pressure. We never share your info.

// Ice dam FAQ

Ice dam questions, answered

What exactly is an ice dam?

A ridge of ice at the roof's edge that blocks melting snow from draining, forcing water back up under the shingles and into your home.

Can I just knock it off myself?

Please don't. Climbing an icy roof or a ladder against an ice-loaded gutter is one of the most dangerous DIY jobs there is, and chipping at the ice damages your roof. A ground-based roof rake or calcium-chloride ice melt can be a stopgap, but active leaks are a job for a pro with a steamer.

Will steaming hurt my shingles?

No — low-pressure steam melts the ice without touching the roof surface. That's exactly why it's the safe method, unlike hammers, picks, or rock salt.

Why do I keep getting ice dams in the same spot?

Because the underlying cause — attic heat loss and poor ventilation — hasn't been fixed. Air sealing, insulation, and balanced ventilation stop them from coming back.

Does insurance cover it?

Often the resulting water damage is covered if reported promptly, but the removal itself usually isn't. We'll document everything so you can file with confidence.

Do you do prevention work in the off-season?

Yes — fall is the best time. We'll assess your attic and roof and fix the cause before winter, so you're not calling for an emergency in January.

// Don't wait it out

Beat the ice before it beats your ceiling

Same-day help for active leaks, and prevention that fixes the cause for good.

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