I get where you’re coming from about roof rakes, but I’ve actually had decent luck with them on my own 3/12 pitch, especially after a heavy wet snow. The trick for me was using one with a plastic blade—less abrasive on the shingles. It’s not perfect, and yeah, you’re not clearing the whole roof, but pulling that first couple feet off near the eaves seemed to help with ice dams. Heat cables are solid, but I’m always a bit wary about running them nonstop with our unpredictable power here in Maine. Just my two cents...
I’ve seen a lot of folks have good luck with roof rakes, especially on lower pitches like 3/12. You’re right about the plastic blade—metal ones can really chew up the shingle edges over time, especially if you’re not careful. Clearing that first couple feet at the eaves is usually enough to keep most ice dams in check, since that’s where the meltwater tends to back up.
Heat cables are a mixed bag in my experience. They work, but only if they’re installed right and you keep an eye on them. I’ve been called out to more than one place where a cable shorted out or just wasn’t doing much because of poor placement. Plus, with power outages being what they are up here, I wouldn’t want to rely on them as my only line of defense.
One thing I’d add—if you’re getting regular ice dams, it might be worth checking attic insulation and ventilation too. Sometimes it’s less about what’s happening outside and more about heat escaping from inside. Not always a quick fix, but it can make a big difference long-term.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen folks spend a fortune on heat cables, only to have them half-melt a trench through the ice and call it a day. I get why people try them, but I wouldn’t bet my roof on a glorified extension cord. Between squirrels chewing wires and random outages, it’s just too easy for them to fail up here.
Honestly, I’m a fan of the low-tech route—roof rake with a plastic blade, just like you mentioned. I’ve seen what a metal edge can do to an architectural shingle after a couple winters... not pretty. But I’ll admit, raking isn’t fun when you’re staring down a big drift in February, and sometimes the snow’s just too heavy for one person to handle.
Attic insulation and ventilation—now that’s the real secret sauce. Fixed more ice dam issues by blowing in another foot of cellulose than I ever did with gadgets. Not the cheapest fix, but it’s one you only have to do once if you do it right. Just wish more folks checked their attics before buying another round of cables.
Attic insulation and ventilation—now that’s the real secret sauce. Fixed more ice dam issues by blowing in another foot of cellulose than I ever did with gadgets.
Couldn’t agree more about insulation and venting. I’ve seen folks throw money at heat cables and still end up with water stains on the ceiling. The “set it and forget it” approach just doesn’t cut it in northern climates. Curious—has anyone tried those ridge vent baffles? I’ve seen mixed results, especially on older homes with weird rooflines. Wondering if they’re worth the hassle or just another thing to clog up with dust over time.
RIDGE VENT BAFFLES: WORTH IT OR JUST ANOTHER DUST TRAP?
You’re not wrong about folks tossing cash at heat cables and still ending up with soggy drywall. I’ve been there—ran a couple hundred feet of those things one year, only to watch the ice dams laugh and keep growing. Ended up spending more on my electric bill than I care to admit.
About those ridge vent baffles...I tried them when we redid the attic insulation last fall. My house is from the late 60s, so nothing’s square, and the roofline is kind of a mess. The baffles themselves weren’t expensive, but getting them to fit around all the weird framing was a pain. Had to cut and wedge more than I expected, and I’m still not convinced they’re doing much. I will say, though, the attic feels less stuffy now—maybe that’s just the new insulation talking.
One thing I noticed: after one winter, there was already a thin layer of dust collecting in some of the baffles near the eaves. Not enough to block airflow yet, but it does make me wonder how much maintenance they’ll need over time. I’m not climbing up there every year just to vacuum out baffles, you know? Still, compared to what I spent on gadgets and “miracle” solutions before, this was at least a one-time hassle.
If your roof is older or has odd angles like mine, I’d say don’t expect miracles from baffles alone. They help a bit with airflow if you’ve got solid soffit vents, but they’re not going to fix bigger issues like poor insulation or leaky flashing. For me, blowing in extra cellulose made way more difference than any vent tweak ever did.
Anyway, good on you for looking past the quick fixes. Sometimes it really is just about going back to basics—even if it means crawling around in itchy insulation for half a weekend.
