Rock salt is common for de icing driveways and paths.
Salt sock roof.
By pouring calcium chloride into this tube like form you can position it vertically over the dam with the sock s end hanging an inch or two over the roof edge and melt a tube like channel through.
The tablets help prevent roof damage by melting through ice dams and allowing water to drain safely.
It will damage the roofing siding gutters and downspouts and the poisonous runoff will kill foundation plants.
The problem is that the calcium chloride in the sock completely melts overnight and the sock is now frozen to the roof and can t be removed.
If you put another sock on top if it all is melted andbyouncan remove sock one.
People have been making their own ice melt socks out of nylon socks and calcium chloride for a long time.
It should be no surprise then that it is the first thing many people think of to remove ice dams.
These products are specifically designed to be thrown up on roofs to melt ice in hard to reach places.
Sodium chloride or rock salt is highly corrosive.
Homeowners tend to install them and not look back.
One of the more popular ways is to toss a throwable ice melting puck onto the roof.
Rock salt can also leave permanent stains on your roof and walls.
The calcium chloride will eventually melt through the snow and ice and create a channel for water to flow down into the gutters or off the roof.
However rock salt is a form of sodium chloride which corrodes metal including the metal nails holding your shingles in place.
While safely on the ground toss a roofmelt tablet onto the roof.
The socks will create melt a channel in the ice to allow the water to run off your roof instead of building up along the eaves and leaking inside.
More recently companies began selling ice melting pucks.
The problem is that the calcium chloride in the sock completely melts overnight and the sock is now frozen to the roof and can t be removed.
If you put another sock on top if it all is melted andbyouncan remove sock one.
Filled with calcium chloride the sock melted ice and did create a channel for water to drain which was good.
That is until water is dripping through the ceiling.
Next go up on the roof and put ice melt socks vertically one end onto the gutter and the other end up the roof slopes spacing them every 3 feet.
If necessary use a long handled garden rake or hoe to push it into position.
A do not put salt on your roof.
Lay the hose onto the roof so it crosses the ice dam and overhangs the gutter.
The roofmelt ice melt is designed to eliminate the need to climb onto roofs while melt snow.
