A ridge of ice sits along the eave above the gutter
From the first oversight check, that ridge is the dam itself, and meltwater is pooling behind it.
Source of the water
Summit, SD
Ice Dam Leak Cleanup in Summit, SD
Our quality-response team addresses water entering beneath roof materials, then dries attic insulation, framing, walls, and ceilings affected by the leak.
- Restoration phone support around the clock
- Residential and commercial loss response
- Measured extraction, cleanup, and drying
- One restoration team from assessment to dry standard
Signs to look for
When to call us for ice dam leak cleanup
With documented progress, 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
From the first oversight check, icicles mean water is running down a warm roof and freezing at a cold edge.
A wet or stained line where the ceiling meets an exterior wall
To meet the completion standard, ice dam water enters over the top plate and drops into the corner.
Water is running out of the top of a window or a door
As our quality checks continue, 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
As our quality checks continue, the snow needs to melt before there is any water to leak.
The roof field is clear of snow but the edge is iced
From the first oversight check, heat escaping into the attic melts snow over the heated part of the house.
What happens
How we handle ice dam leak cleanup
Our quality-response team adjusts the work to what got wet, how far the water traveled, and which materials can be saved.
Safety overhead before anything else
To meet the completion standard, wet ceiling boxes and can lights mean the circuit gets shut off from a dry location.
Stopping the meltwater at the dam
With documented progress, steam removal is the correct method, and we coordinate a crew that has the equipment.
Reading the ceiling perimeter and the top of the wall
To meet the completion standard, 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
To meet the completion standard, 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
From the first oversight check, 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
With documented progress, the house stays heated, the wet cavity gets contained, and air movers work into the openings with an Professional dehumidifier on the room.
Talk with a restoration specialist
Water loss in Summit, SD?
Describe the source, the impacted rooms, and when you first noticed the damage.
What to expect
What to expect from our quality-response team
From the first oversight check, here is how we usually handle ice dam leak cleanup near Summit, SD.
-
1
You call and we ask what the roof edge looks like
With documented progress, ice ridge, icicles, snow depth and which side of the house it is on.
Your call -
2
Photograph the ice, then clear the room
As our quality checks continue, take pictures of the eave from the ground while the ice is still there.
+5 minutes -
3
A crew is dispatched for cold weather work
To meet the completion standard, sealed work area, drying equipment and the steam contact get lined up together.
+15 minutes -
4
Exterior and interior documented before work starts
To meet the completion standard, we record the dam, the icicles, the gutter condition and every interior stain with dates.
On arrival -
5
The meltwater gets stopped at the eave
To meet the completion standard, 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
From the first oversight check, readings run the full exterior wall length, the ceiling perimeter and both sides of every window head.
First hours on site -
7
Swollen casing off, wet blown in material out at the eave
From the first oversight check, swollen window casing, failed board and soaked blown in insulation at the eave are removed and logged.
Day 1
Understanding the cost
What can affect the price
With documented progress, we explain the recommended work and price before you approve the job. With documented progress, 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 | As our quality checks continue, national estimate. | $400 to $1,500 |
| Interior cleanup after one ice dam leak, one room dried in place | To meet the completion standard, 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 | From the first oversight check, 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 | As our quality checks continue, national estimate for extraction, bagging and disposal of soaked material. | $1.00 to $2.50 |
| Perimeter drywall removal with cavity drying, per square foot | With documented progress, 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 | As our quality checks continue, national estimate for sealing attic bypasses and bringing depth back to code. | $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 quality 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 | With documented progress, national estimate for nights, weekends and holidays, billed once rather than per hour. | $100 to $400 nationally |
How many eaves are leaking
To meet the completion standard, one dam over one room is a contained job.How far the water ran along the wall
From the first oversight check, water spreads sideways on the top plate before it drops.Whether the ice has to be removed first
With documented progress, steam removal is its own contractor visit and is usually billed hourly. To meet the completion standard, it is not optional while water is still backing up.How much ceiling, wall and trim has to come out
With documented progress, board that can be dried in place costs a fraction of what removal and rebuild cost.Insulation type and depth at the perimeter
As our quality checks continue, blown in material at the eave has to be extracted rather than lifted out.Cold weather drying days
From the first oversight check, 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
To meet the completion standard, water can keep moving into nearby materials even when the surface looks dry.
The dam rebuilds every night it refreezes
From the first oversight check, one warm afternoon and one cold night is all it takes to make more ice.
This water is above the line the roof was designed for
From the first oversight check, shingles shed running water, they do not hold standing water.
Wet insulation makes the next dam worse
As our quality checks continue, 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
To meet the completion standard, framing at 35 degrees releases moisture very slowly.
Helpful service information
What to know about ice dam leak cleanup
As our quality checks continue, start with the short explanation. To meet the completion standard, open a card if you want a little more detail.
What is happening inside the property
To meet the completion standard, heat leaking from the house warms the roof deck over the living space.
Read the explanation
To meet the completion standard, the physics here are simple and they explain everything about where the water shows up.
How the next step is decided
As our quality checks continue, ice dams form where heat loss is concentrated, so they come back in the same place until that path is closed.
Read the explanation
From the first oversight check, recurrence is the part that matters for your money. As our quality checks continue, 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
As our quality checks continue, 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
As our quality checks continue, inside the building, ice dam water behaves unlike any other leak we handle.
Help near you
Ice Dam Leak Cleanup near Summit, SD
Choose your area below, or call (877) 775-0441 and describe what happened.
Common questions
Questions about ice dam leak cleanup
What is an ice dam and why does it leak?
As our quality checks continue, heat escaping into your attic melts snow on the upper roof. To meet the completion standard, that water runs down and refreezes at the cold overhang, building a ridge of ice.
How much does ice dam leak cleanup cost?
With documented progress, nationally, one room dried in place usually runs about $600 to $2,000. As our quality checks continue, several leaking eaves with removal typically run $3,000 to $9,000.
Does insurance cover ice dam damage?
With documented progress, usually yes for the interior damage, because it is treated as sudden weather damage. From the first oversight check, many carriers also reimburse ice removal as mitigation.
Can I chip the ice off myself?
From the first oversight check, no. As our quality checks continue, 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?
With documented progress, a roof rake used from the ground is reasonable for pulling snow off the lower roof.
How is the ice actually removed?
From the first oversight check, low pressure steam is the correct method and it is what the specialty crews use.
Why is the water coming out over my window?
From the first oversight check, the water enters over the top plate and drops into the wall cavity.
Talk with a restoration specialist
Water loss in Summit, SD?
Describe the source, the impacted rooms, and when you first noticed the damage.
Areas we serve
Water-damage help near Summit, SD
Our quality-response team quality-check homes, businesses, and managed properties throughout Summit, SD and nearby communities.
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