# Ice Dam Removal & Roof Raking in Woodbury, MN

> Steam ice dam removal and proactive roof raking in Woodbury, Oakdale, Lake Elmo, Cottage Grove, Maplewood, and Afton, MN. Done safely, no shingle damage.

- URL: https://www.hansenslawncare.com/ice-dam-removal-roof-raking-woodbury-mn/
- Updated: 2026-05-26

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Ice dam removal melts the dam off the eave with low-pressure hot steam so meltwater can drain instead of backing up under the shingles. Proactive roof raking after every 6 inch snowfall is the cheapest way to keep dams from forming in the first place.

_Ice dam removal & roof raking_
# Steam removal of ice dams. No shingle damage.
Ice dams force melt water back up under the shingles and into the house. We use low-pressure hot steam to safely melt the dam without prying, chipping, or beating up your roof.
[Get a free quote](/contact-us/)
[Call (612) 849-0254](tel:+16128490254)

Ice dams happen when warm air leaks into the attic, melts snow on the roof from below, and the melt re-freezes at the cold eave. The dam keeps building until water has nowhere to go but back up under the shingles. The [University of Minnesota Extension guidance on ice dams](https://extension.umn.edu/protecting-home-rain-and-storms/dealing-ice-dams) is clear that the long-term fix is attic insulation and air sealing, not chipping. By then the cheapest answer is a careful steam removal, the cleanest answer is to never let one form in the first place.

![Snow and icicles built up on a roof edge against a blue sky in Woodbury, MN](/images/Roof-Snow-Ice-Dam-Removal-Woodbury-MN.webp)

## How we remove ice dams.
Steam only — the safe way to clear a dam without prying, chipping, or beating up your roof.
- **Hot, low-pressure steam** — Steam, not pressure. Melts the dam without driving water under the shingles.
- **No chipping or chiseling** — Mechanical removal damages shingles, every time. We don't do it.
- **Drain channels first** — We melt drain paths first so backed-up water has somewhere to go before the full removal.

![Row of icicles along a roof gutter needing ice dam removal in Oakdale, MN](/images/Roof-Icicles-Ice-Dam-Removal-Oakdale-MN.webp)

_Prevention_

## Roof raking before dams form.

If we can pull the snow off the lower 4 to 6 feet of the roof before it melts, the dam usually never forms in the first place. For most homes, a proactive roof raking after every 6 to 8 inch snowfall costs a fraction of a single dam removal.

- Ground-based raking, no walking the roof
- Recommended after any 6"+ snowfall
- Most effective for ranch homes and 1.5-story styles with low eaves

[Schedule a roof raking](/contact-us/)

![Large icicles hanging from a home's roofline in winter in Woodbury, MN](/images/Ice-Dam-Roof-Raking-Woodbury-MN.webp)

![Heavy icicles and an ice dam on a home in Cottage Grove, MN](/images/Ice-Dam-Removal-Roof-Raking-Cottage-Grove-MN.webp)

> [WARN] Active leak inside?
> If water is currently coming through a ceiling, call us at (612) 849-0254 first, then move belongings out from under the leak. Don't go on the roof to try to break the ice off, that almost always makes the leak worse and can damage the shingles.

## Service area
Ice dam and roof raking service across the east metro.

## Common ice dam questions.

What's safe, what isn't, and how fast we can get to an active leak.

### Will steaming damage my shingles?

No. Done with proper low-pressure steam equipment, the temperature at the shingle is no hotter than a warm summer day. The damage from ice dams comes from the chipping and chiseling people use to try to break them off, not from the steam.

### Can salt or chemicals fix it?

Not really. Calcium chloride socks can help maintain a drain channel temporarily, but they don't remove an established dam, and they're hard on shingles and gutters when overused.

### How fast can you get out for an active leak?

Same day or next day during normal business hours when conditions allow. After-hours emergency service is available for active interior leaks.

### What's the long-term fix?

Better attic insulation and air sealing so the roof deck stays cold, plus better venting at the eave and ridge. We can refer a contractor for that work, but in the meantime preventive roof raking keeps you out of trouble.

## Other winter services worth bundling.
- **[Snow plowing](/snow-plowing-woodbury-minnesota/)** — Add residential plowing so the same crew handles the whole storm.
- **[Fall leaf cleanup](/fall-leaf-clean-up/)** — A clean roof valley going into winter reduces ice-dam material.
- **[Weekly mowing](/weekly-lawn-mowing-woodbury/)** — Carry the relationship into next spring with weekly mowing.

## What winter customers say.

> "They took care of my driveway all winter and even cleaned up heavy snow after a spring storm. The team was punctual, efficient, and respectful of my property. This company is also veteran owned."
> — K. McCulloch, Winter services customer

## Get the dam off before it gets in the house.
Same-day quotes and same-day callouts when conditions allow.
[Request a free quote](/contact-us/)
[Call (612) 849-0254](tel:+16128490254)

## Key takeaways

- Steam removal only — chipping or chiseling damages shingles every time
- Drain channels melted first so backed-up water has somewhere to go
- Roof raking the lower 4 to 6 feet of the roof prevents most dams
- Same-day or next-day callouts during business hours for active interior leaks
- Long-term fix is attic insulation, air sealing, and proper eave/ridge venting