For anyone living in a colder region, safeguarding their home from the elements of the weather is their utmost priority. If you also live in an area with a lot of snowfall during winter, you may identify with this sentiment completely.
It especially holds for ice dams, which can damage your roof and cause safety hazards all at once. To ensure the well-being of your family and property alike, you need to eliminate these pesky formations before they can do any harm.
With ice melt systems, you can achieve this feat in a comfortable and worry-less way. Instead of breaking the ice by yourself, you can pour these solutions on your roof to melt the ice away in a seamless manner. If that sounds like the ideal solution to a difficult problem, it’s because it is.
To help you get the most out of these solutions, here’s a lowdown on how to choose the best roof ice melt systems.
Compare The Roof Ice Melt System and Solutions Efficacy
Roof ice melt solutions come in different compositions. Some of the most popular options are salt-based and chloride-based systems that include sodium chloride and magnesium chloride. A few of these roof ice melt systems also come in the form of a blend, a combination of two or more ingredients that do not always use salt and chloride.
But even though these roof ice melt systems are available in various forms, the main difference lies in their effectiveness against certain temperatures. If the temperature drops below the specified limits, it harms the efficacy of these solutions.
- Sodium Chloride. Also called rock salt, this ice melt solution can work with temperatures to a limit of 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Magnesium Chloride. Magnesium chloride can work in temperatures upwards of 6 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Potassium Chloride. This composition is effective in temperatures above 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Calcium Chloride. This composition is effective in temperatures that go upwards of -30 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Blends. These compositions are specially produced with high performance in mind. It makes them go beyond the usual temperature limit of typical compositions.
You can consult the respective product materials for further information about each of these compositions.
Consider Their Application Method
Almost all of these ice melt systems exclusively come in solids such as flakes, granules, or pellets. The only major standout is calcium chloride. It is not only available in a solid form but also comes in a liquid composition.
The application method for all of these solutions is quite similar. Apart from a few key differences, such as the advised quantity of usage, they require you to pour the solution directly on the place of the ice dams and not on your roofing structure.
By looking at precisely suggested quantities, you can compare how easy these solutions can be to apply. Since salt- and chloride-based solutions can leave stains on your property or affect the longevity of roofing shingles, this approach also helps you determine the possible damage and lets you consider other approaches instead.
Look Into Their Impact on the Environment
Salt- and chloride-based roof ice melt system solutions are corrosive to organic matter such as plants and grass. It means that if you keep using them in large quantities, they can significantly affect your lawn and its ability to grow new plants from its soil.
On the other hand, blends that are free of salt and chloride do not pose such threats. They remain environmentally friendly and ensure a healthy lawn even with consistent usage.
Keeping this in mind, make sure to consider the compositions that have the least amount of impact on your lawn. Since blends stand out in this aspect, you may feel them for your usage.
Be Mindful of Their Safety Profile
Most of these compositions are not safe to be touched or ingested. It makes it difficult to apply them and calls for a highly tedious application approach. If these solutions leak down to your lawn or flow off of your gutter system, they can cause a health hazard for your kids or pets.
That is why you must take specific measures while applying these ice melt solutions by yourself. Keep kids and pets off the area immediately after the application, especially when the melting process starts. It can help you lower the risks by a large margin.
On the other hand, you can find an ice melt solution blend made from safer elements. These solutions are kid- and pet-friendly while also being easier to apply. It ensures more convenience for you in the long run.
Note Down the Price Comparison
Most of these compositions are available at varying price points. Some ice melt systems, such as those based on sodium chloride, are perhaps the cheapest. But the cheapest solution doesn’t always mean it’s the best one. Take the example of sodium chloride; its affordability should be directly compared with the damage it can cause to your roofing, walls, and lawn.
That’s where you need to compare factors such as overall efficacy and safety profile to find the best fit of ice melt solutions for yourself. It makes sure that you are not bargaining the desired effects in exchange for the well-being of your family or property.
By keeping these factors in mind, you can shop for the ideal roof ice melt systems in a stress-free manner. It helps you get rid of ice dams through a comfortable process.
Reach Out To Ice Dams Experts at HotEdge Today
HotEdge® provides solutions that prevent ice dams and icicles from forming. Using a combination of different products, we’re able to cost-effectively prevent snow meltwater from re-freezing on your roof to ensure ice dams and icicles do not have the opportunity to develop.
HotEdge® is the leader in the world in manufacturing accredited roof ice melt systems. We understand just how destructive ice dams and icicle formations can be to your roof and property.
If you are looking for roof ice melt solutions and want to mitigate ice dams on your roof, reach out to us today.
We understand that snowmelt solutions are necessary, especially in areas that experience heavy snow and roof ice problems. If you want to preserve your house and your roofing, reach out to our professionals at HotEdge today.
