A ridge of ice sits along the eave above the gutter
That ridge is the dam itself, and meltwater is pooling behind it. Photograph it from the ground now, because it is the proof of cause and it disappears with the weather.
Source of the water
20002
Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in Washington, DC 20002
Our crew addresses water entering beneath roof materials, then dries attic insulation, framing, walls, and ceilings affected by the leak.
- Emergency phone support 24/7
- Service for homes and businesses
- Extraction, cleanup, and structural drying
- One crew from inspection through drying
Signs to look for
When to call us for ice dam leak cleanup
If you notice any of these problems, call us before water has more time to spread into nearby materials.
Thick icicles are hanging from the gutter line
Icicles mean water is running down a warm roof and freezing at a cold edge. They are the visible symptom of the exact process that causes the leak.
A wet or stained line where the ceiling meets an exterior wall
Ice dam water enters over the top plate and drops into the corner. That ceiling perimeter stain is the single most common ice dam symptom.
Water is running out of the top of a window or a door
The wall cavity carries the water down to the first thing that blocks it, which is a window head.
It leaks on a sunny day, not during the storm
The snow needs to melt before there is any water to leak. A leak that starts when the sun comes out after a snowfall is diagnostic.
The roof field is clear of snow but the edge is iced
Heat escaping into the attic melts snow over the heated part of the house. The edge overhangs unheated space, so the water refreezes there.
What happens
How we handle ice dam leak cleanup
Our crew adjusts the work to which areas and materials are wet, the distance the water traveled, and what materials can be saved.
Safety overhead before anything else
Wet ceiling boxes and can lights mean the circuit gets shut off from a dry location. Nobody stands under a sagging area, and removals overhead are a crew task.
Stopping the meltwater at the dam
Steam removal is the correct method, and we coordinate a crew that has the equipment. Low pressure steam melts a channel through the ice without stripping the shingles.
Reading the ceiling perimeter and the top of the wall
A moisture meter runs the full length of every exterior wall in the affected room, not just the stained part.
Wall cavity access where the water came down
Baseboard or window casing comes off and small access holes let us read and dry inside the cavity.
Wet insulation at the eave removed and bagged
Compacted or soaked material at the perimeter comes out in place and gets replaced with a measured R value.
Drying an assembly that is cold on one side
The house stays heated, the wet cavity gets contained, and air movers work into the openings with an Professional dehumidifier on the room.
Speak with our crew
Water emergency in Washington, DC 20002?
Let us know how it started, where the water came from, and which areas are wet.
What to expect
What to expect from our crew
Here is how we typically handle ice dam leak cleanup near Washington, DC 20002.
-
1
You call and we ask what the roof edge looks like
Ice ridge, icicles, snow depth and which side of the house it is on. Those four answers let us know whether steam removal comes on the first trip.
Your call -
2
Photograph the ice, then clear the room
Take pictures of the eave from the ground while the ice is still there. Move what you can lift from a dry floor and stay out from under any sag.
+5 minutes -
3
A crew is dispatched for cold weather work
Sealed work area, drying equipment and the steam contact get lined up together. Winter calls come in clusters during a thaw, so we sequence by severity.
+15 minutes -
4
Exterior and interior documented before work starts
We record the dam, the icicles, the gutter condition and every interior stain with dates. This is a weather loss, and the weather is the evidence.
On arrival -
5
The meltwater gets stopped at the eave
Steam opens channels through the dam so water drains off the roof instead of backing up under the shingles.
First hours on site -
6
The perimeter gets mapped, wall by wall
Readings run the full exterior wall length, the ceiling perimeter and both sides of every window head. We tape the wet edge so you can see the real footprint.
First hours on site -
7
Swollen casing off, wet blown in material out at the eave
Swollen window casing, failed board and soaked blown in insulation at the eave are removed and logged. Perimeter gypsum that only met clean meltwater stays where it is and gets dried.
Day 1
Understanding the cost
What can affect the price
We walk you through the recommended cleanup plan and price before you approve the job. These examples show what may change the estimate.
| Common situation | What the estimate may include | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Steam ice dam removal at the eave, by a specialty crew | National estimate. Commonly billed hourly at roughly $250 to $500 per hour, typically one to three hours, with a minimum charge. | $400 to $1,500 |
| Interior cleanup after one ice dam leak, one room dried in place | National estimate for perimeter ceiling and wall drying with trim removal, no demolition. | $600 to $2,000 |
| Several eaves leaking, multiple rooms with removal and drying | National estimate including wet insulation removal, drywall sections and five to seven drying days. | $3,000 to $9,000 |
| Wet attic or perimeter insulation removal and disposal, per square foot | National estimate for extraction, bagging and disposal of soaked material. | $1.00 to $2.50 |
| Perimeter drywall removal with cavity drying, per square foot | National estimate for removal, disposal and drying of the opened assembly. | $1.50 to $4.00 |
| Attic air sealing and insulation top up, by an insulation contractor | National estimate for sealing attic bypasses and bringing depth back to code. This is the fix, not the cleanup. | $1,200 to $4,000 |
| Heat cable installed at the eave and in the gutter, by a contractor | National estimate for a separate trade, not part of our cleanup work plan. It manages symptoms on a problem eave and adds a power bill each winter. | $600 to $2,500 |
| After hours or overnight dispatch charge | National estimate for nights, weekends and holidays, billed once rather than per hour. | $100 to $400 nationally |
How many eaves are leaking
One dam over one room is a contained job. Three sides of a house during a long thaw is three separate wet areas.How far the water ran along the wall
Water spreads sideways on the top plate before it drops. A four foot stain frequently means fifteen feet of wet cavity.Whether the ice has to be removed first
Steam removal is its own contractor visit and is typically billed hourly. It is not optional while water is still backing up.How much ceiling, wall and trim has to come out
Board that can be dried in place costs a fraction of what removal and rebuild cost. Delaminated board, wet insulation and swollen casing move it into removal work.Insulation type and depth at the perimeter
Blown in material at the eave has to be extracted rather than lifted out. Replacement is measured by area and by the R value going back.Cold weather drying days
Air movers run roughly $25 to $40 per unit per day and Professional dehumidifiers roughly $70 to $110 per unit per day.
Why timing matters
What can happen when the area stays wet
Water may keep moving into nearby materials even when the surface looks dry.
The dam rebuilds every night it refreezes
One warm afternoon and one cold night is all it takes to make more ice. Each cycle raises the dam and pushes water further under the shingles.
This water is above the line the roof was designed for
Shingles shed running water, they do not hold standing water. Behind a dam the water sits above every lap and drip edge and simply walks in.
Wet insulation makes the next dam worse
Soaked material at the eave stops insulating, so more heat reaches the roof deck and more snow melts.
Cold cavities hold water for weeks on their own
Framing at 35 degrees releases moisture very slowly. What looks dry at the surface in March is still wet inside the wall.
Helpful service information
What to know about ice dam leak cleanup
Begin with the short explanation. Open a card if you want a little more detail.
What is happening inside the property
Heat leaking from the house warms the roof deck over the living space.
Read the explanation
The physics here are simple and they explain everything about where the water shows up. Heat leaking from the house warms the roof deck over the living space.
How the next step is decided
Ice dams form where heat loss is concentrated, so they come back in the same place until that path is closed.
Read the explanation
Recurrence is the part that matters for your money. Ice dams form where heat loss is concentrated, so they come back in the same place until that path is closed.
What may change the work
It enters over the top plate at the outside wall, so the first wet materials are the ceiling perimeter and the top of the wall cavity.
Read the explanation
Inside the building, ice dam water behaves unlike any other leak we handle. It enters over the top plate at the outside wall, so the first wet materials are the ceiling perimeter and the top of the wall cavity.
Help near you
Ice Dam Leak Cleanup near Washington, DC 20002
Select your area below, or call (844) 782-0175 and describe how the water emergency started.
Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20001Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20003Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20004Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20005Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20006Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20007Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20008Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20009Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20010Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20011Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20012Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20013Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20015Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20016Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20017Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20018Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20019Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20020Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20022Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20024Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20026Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20027Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20029Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20030Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20032Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20033Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20035Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20036Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20037Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20038Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20039Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20040Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20041Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20042Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20043Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20044Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20045Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20047Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20049Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20050Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20052Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20053Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20055Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20056Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20057Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20058Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20059Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20060Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20061Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20062Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20063Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20064Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20065Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20066Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20067Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20068Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20069Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20070Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20071Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20073Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20074Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20075Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20076Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20077Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20078Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20080Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20081Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20082Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20090Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20091Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20201Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20202Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20203Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20204Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20206Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20207Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20208Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20210Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20211Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20212Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20213Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20214Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20215Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20216Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20217Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20218Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20219Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20220Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20221Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20222Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20223Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20224Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20226Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20227Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20228Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20229Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20230Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20232Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20233Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20235Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20237Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20238Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20239Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20240Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20241Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20242Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20244Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20245Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20250Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20251Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20252Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20254Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20260Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20261Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20262Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20265Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20266Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20268Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20270Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20277Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20289Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20299Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20301Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20303Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20306Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20310Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20314Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20317Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20318Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20319Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20330Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20340Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20350Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20355Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20370Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20372Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20375Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20380Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20389Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20390Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20392Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20393Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20394Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20395Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20401Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20402Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20403Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20404Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20405Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20406Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20407Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20408Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20409Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20410Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20411Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20412Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20413Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20414Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20415Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20416Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20417Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20418Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20419Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20420Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20421Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20422Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20423Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20424Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20425Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20426Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20427Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20428Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20429Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20431Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20433Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20434Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20435Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20436Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20437Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20439Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20440Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20441Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20442Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20444Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20447Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20451Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20453Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20456Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20460Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20463Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20468Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20469Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20470Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20472Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20500Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20501Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20502Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20503Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20504Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20505Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20506Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20507Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20508Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20509Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20510Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20511Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20515Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20520Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20521Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20522Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20523Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20524Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20525Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20526Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20527Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20528Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20529Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20530Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20531Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20533Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20534Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20535Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20536Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20537Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20538Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20539Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20540Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20541Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20542Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20543Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20544Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20546Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20547Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20548Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20549Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20551Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20552Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20553Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20554Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20555Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20557Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20559Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20560Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20565Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20566Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20570Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20571Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20572Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20573Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20575Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20576Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20577Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20578Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20579Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20580Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20581Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20585Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20586Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20590Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20591Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20593Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20594Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20597Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 20599Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 56901Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 56915Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 56920Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 56933Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 56944Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in 56972
Common questions
Questions about ice dam leak cleanup
What is an ice dam and why does it leak?
Heat escaping into your attic melts snow on the upper roof. That water runs down and refreezes at the cold overhang, building a ridge of ice.
How much does ice dam leak cleanup cost?
Nationally, one room dried in place typically runs about $600 to $2,000. Several leaking eaves with removal typically run $3,000 to $9,000.
Does insurance cover ice dam damage?
Usually yes for the interior damage, because it is treated as sudden weather damage. Many carriers also reimburse ice removal as mitigation.
Can I chip the ice off myself?
No. Do not chip, hammer, chisel or pressure wash ice on a roof, and do not put a ladder against an icy building.
Should I use a roof rake or salt?
A roof rake used from the ground is reasonable for pulling snow off the lower roof. Keep it away from overhead power lines and stand clear of what comes down.
How is the ice actually removed?
Low pressure steam is the correct method and it is what the specialty crews use. It melts channels through the dam without damaging shingles.
Why is the water coming out over my window?
The water enters over the top plate and drops into the wall cavity. It runs down the framing until something blocks it, and a window head is the first thing that does.
Speak with our crew
Water emergency in Washington, DC 20002?
Let us know how it started, where the water came from, and which areas are wet.
Areas we serve
Water-damage help near Washington, DC 20002
Our crew serves homes, businesses, and managed properties throughout Washington, DC 20002 and nearby communities.
View the area on Google Maps