Why to get it off of your home’s roof?
It has been reported that a foot of heavy snow on a 1,600 square foot house can weigh as much as 14 tons. All this weight can create structural problems and harm the integrity of your home, especially homes with large, flat roofs posing the greatest risk. Keep an eye out for your roof sagging, cracked or split wood, cracks in walls or masonry, or doors and windows that become difficult to open.
You should also remove snow from your roof because it has a tendency to create an ice dam at the bottom of the roof by your gutters and eves. The snow will start to melt off the roof, but at the gutter and eve, the water refreezes. After a period of time of this, the ice has nowhere else to go and may find its way under your roofing and melt into your home.
How to remove it?
There are a few options. One way would be to install heat cables so the snow is melted away. Make sure the wire is laid correctly and that it remains operational so the wire does not become a fire hazard. Another way to clear snow from your roof is to use a shovel or snow rake. You will want to do this carefully. You want to use a shovel or shovel that is lightweight and plastic. Rakes that are telescopic work well. Do not use sharp tools, or bang your snow removal tools on the roof to try and break snow and ice free. Do you best to get the bottom three feet of snow off the roof, at least. If you use a ladder, make sure to take the proper precautions. Make sure it is angled correctly and is positioned so it does not slip. In fact, the City of Boston has guidelines for safe snow removal, advising not to do it alone. We also advise you to clear away all snow that falls off your roof from entrances/exits, from walkways, and from furnace and dryer exhaust vents.
Resources:
https://6abc.com/home/correct-way-of-removing-snow-from-roof-/1173609/
https://www.bostonmagazine.com/property/2015/01/27/how-to-clear-snow-roof/
https://www.propertycasualty360.com/2015/03/02/dos-and-donts-for-safely-removing-snow-from-your-r/?slreturn=20191011200919
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/roof-collapse-and-snow-removal-safety-information
http://www.moonworkshome.com/4-ways-to-get-snow-off-your-roof/
