Best Roof Snow Rakes to Prevent Ice Dams This Winter
A foot of wet snow on a porch roof can weigh more than you think, and it feeds the ice dams that push meltwater under your shingles. Pulling the bottom three or four feet off from the ground is the cheapest fix there is.
We picked telescoping roof rakes you can use without a ladder, a slide style system for big snow totals, and two backups for roofs that already have ice building at the edge.
Stay on the ground, watch for power lines, and never stand under the eave while you pull. Snow slides fast once it lets go.
Best Overall: Garelick EZ Roof Rake 21 Foot
The Garelick EZ is the roof rake most hardware stores in snow country stock, and for good reason. Aluminum sections lock together to about 21 feet, so you can clear a typical ranch or porch roof from the yard.
The wide blade moves a lot of snow per pull, and small rollers keep it from scraping shingles. It breaks down short enough to hang in a garage.
Clear the first few feet above the gutter after every big storm. That alone stops most ice dams before they start.
Garelick EZ Roof Rake 21 Foot
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1,500+ reviews
A 21 foot aluminum telescoping roof rake with a wide blade and shingle protecting rollers for clearing snow from the ground.
Shop on Amazon →Best Value: Snow Joe RJ204M Twist and Lock Roof Rake
Snow Joe's RJ204M telescopes out to roughly 21 feet with a twist and lock pole, so there are no loose sections to lose in a snowbank. The poly blade is gentle on shingles.
It is light enough that most people can work a whole porch roof without their arms giving out. That matters when you are clearing after a two day storm.
Fully extended it flexes more than heavier rakes. Pull steady rather than yanking and it holds up fine.
Snow Joe RJ204M Twist-N-Lock Telescoping Snow Roof Rake
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10,000+ reviews
A budget friendly 21 foot telescoping roof rake with a twist lock pole and shingle safe poly blade.
Shop on Amazon →Best for Heavy Snow: Avalanche Original Roof Snow Removal System
The Avalanche works differently than a rake. You push a frame up the roof and the snow slides down a vinyl slide, so you are not dragging heavy snow back toward yourself.
That makes it much easier on your back when a lake effect storm drops two feet at once. It clears a wide strip with each push.
Expect a short learning curve and a lot of snow landing right in front of you. Stand off to the side of the slide.
Avalanche! Original Roof Snow Removal System
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A push style roof snow removal tool that cuts snow and slides it off the roof on a vinyl chute for heavy snow loads.
Shop on Amazon →Roof Snow Rake Tips
- Leave an inch or two. Scraping down to the shingles wears off granules. A thin layer of snow is fine.
- Work from the edge up. Pull small bites near the gutter first, then reach higher. Big slabs are harder to control.
- Look up first. Aluminum poles conduct electricity. Never rake near the service drop or any overhead line.
- Clear gutters in fall. Leaves in the gutter trap meltwater and make ice dams far more likely.
Best Prevention: Frost King Automatic Roof Cable Kit
If one corner of your roof ices up every single year, a heat cable kit keeps a melt channel open so water can drain instead of backing up under the shingles.
Frost King's kits come in several lengths and clip on in a zigzag along the eave and into the gutter. A built in thermostat turns the cable on when it gets cold.
Install it in the fall before the first freeze. Plug it into a GFCI outdoor outlet.
Frost King Automatic Electric Roof Cable Kit
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A thermostat controlled roof and gutter de-icing cable kit that keeps drainage channels open along eaves.
Shop on Amazon →Best Quick Fix: Roof Melt Ice Dam Tablets
When an ice dam has already formed, Roof Melt tablets are the fastest fix you can do from the ground. Toss them onto the ice ridge and they melt drainage channels through it.
They are formulated to be gentler on shingles, gutters, and plants than rock salt. Keep a tub in the garage for the January thaw and freeze cycle.
Tablets treat the symptom, not the cause. Pair them with a roof rake so the dam does not just rebuild.
Roof Melt Ice Dam Tablets
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Throwable ice melt tablets that cut drainage channels through roof ice dams without climbing a ladder.
Shop on Amazon →Frequently Asked Questions
How much snow should I rake off my roof?
Most homeowners only need to clear the bottom three to four feet above the gutter. That is where ice dams form and where the weight sits on porch roofs.
Will a roof rake damage shingles?
A rake with rollers or a poly blade is gentle when you leave a thin layer of snow. Damage usually comes from scraping down to bare shingles or chopping at ice.
Do roof heat cables really stop ice dams?
They keep a channel open so meltwater drains instead of backing up. They work best on known problem spots and when gutters are clean.
Can I use rock salt on an ice dam?
Rock salt can harm shingles, gutters, and plants below. Use a product made for roofs, like calcium chloride ice dam tablets.