Ice Dam Leaking Into Your House? What to Do Now

Updated 2026-10-24 · Sources checked

"Would this be an ice dam with water going behind siding?"

A homeowner who started a thread on r/HomeMaintenance asked this, with photos of a leaking window.

Ice at the roof edge and water inside means the ice has backed meltwater up under the shingles¹. Hacking away at the dam won't undo that, because the water is already in. Your jobs today are indoors: stay off the roof and ladders², protect and photograph what is wet, dry it, then have a roofer look.

Quick answer:

Look from the ground and from the attic, and stay off the roof³ and ladders.
Move belongings away from the water and photograph or videotape the damage⁴ before any cleanup or repair.
Dry what is wet within 24-48 hours⁵.
Check your deductible⁴ (what you pay before insurance pays) if you may file a claim, then book a roofer.

On this page

Where is the water really leaking into the house?
Check inside: attic, ceilings and walls
Steps for the next 48 hours
Should you remove the ice yourself?
Will homeowners insurance cover an ice dam?
Before you call a roofer
Quick questions

You can't melt the ice today, but you do control where the water lands, what it touches and how fast it dries.

Where is the water really leaking into the house?

Melted snow runs down the roof, reaches the cooler part near the eaves and freezes there². That ridge of ice is the dam. Water behind it has nowhere to go, so it can leak to the ceilings and walls below¹.

The stain is not a map. Leaks are rarely located directly above the water spot on the ceiling⁶, so the hole in the roof may be some distance from the stain. From the ground, try binoculars on the eave. In the attic, look for a drip trail.

Check inside: attic, ceilings and walls

Water from an ice dam can end up in walls as well as ceilings, so look at both. In the attic, check rafters and insulation for water stains and discoloration⁷. Do the same on the ceilings and interior walls of the rooms below the eave.

Dark marks on wood, discolored insulation, or a damp wall tell you where the water went, even if the roof looks fine from the ground. Write down or photograph each spot, so you can show it to the roofer later.

Wondering if the water could have reached the wood under the shingles? What roof rot means and what to get in writing.

Steps for the next 48 hours

Protect and photograph. Move belongings out of the way and put a bucket under any drip. Photograph or video the damage before cleanup. Take reasonable steps to protect your property from further damage⁴: that part is in your hands.
Dry what is wet. Mold in most cases will not grow if wet materials are dried within 24-48 hours⁵ of a leak. Wet insulation is the hard part: wet insulation must be removed for the ceiling to dry properly⁸, so ask the roofer who will do that, or whether you need a water-damage company as well.
If you think you may file a claim, prepare first. Read your policy⁴ and find your deductible. A loss lower than the deductible may not be worth filing⁴. If you do go ahead, start the claim with your homeowners insurer, questions in hand. Keep damaged items until the adjuster has visited⁴, because they show what the water did. In Connecticut, permanent repairs wait until the insurer has inspected⁹.
Get a roofer to look at the roof. Unless you are experienced, hire a professional roofer⁶ for the repair; the method depends on the kind of roofing and how far the leak goes.

If the roofer can't come today:

Keep the drips caught and belongings moved: make temporary repairs to protect your house and belongings¹⁰.
After the next thaw or rain, check the attic for a drip trail⁶; a new trail shows the roofer where to look.

Could any of this water be coming from a pipe rather than the ice? Who to call for a roof leak.

Should you remove the ice yourself?

No. If the ice needs to come off, leave that to a roofer you hire. One r/DIY reply put it simply: "Break the dam. That will prevent the water damage." But chipping away at the ice can cause further damage to your roof and shingles³, and the water has already gone in.

Getting up there adds a second risk. Removing snow from the roof can be dangerous², so use a roof rake from the ground instead.

Another r/DIY comment looks ahead to next winter: "Invest in a roof rake, in the future get the snow off before it becomes ice."

Will homeowners insurance cover an ice dam?

Your own policy decides. Standard homeowners policies cover most of the kinds of damage that result from a freeze, including ice in gutters that makes water back up under shingles and seep into the house¹¹.

In Connecticut, interior or exterior damage caused by an ice dam on a roof is generally covered¹². In that state, many policies do not pay for ice dam removal⁹. That difference matters, because the damage and the removal can be treated separately.

When you call, ask whether the policy pays for the water damage and whether it pays to remove the ice. Also ask what your deductible is for this kind of loss, and what repair or inspection it needs before you do anything permanent.

Curious what decides whether insurance covers a leak in general? Will insurance pay for a roof leak.

Before you call a roofer

Have these ready, so the visit is short and you stay in charge of it:

Your photos and video of the stains, drips and wet spots.
A note of where you found water in the attic, ceilings and walls.
Your policy⁴, if you may claim.
The questions below.

Ask each roofer to put the repair, the price for each item and the approval step for extra work in writing. You can send this:

Please write in your estimate what repair you propose, the price for each item, and how any extra work gets my signed approval before it starts. Please also send a photo of every problem you find.

If a roofer pushes you to sign today or won't put this in writing, that is an answer too: weigh it against the bids that do.

Quick questions

How can I melt ice dams on my roof? Not by chipping or climbing, as above. If the ice is already thick, ask the roofer you hire how they would deal with it, and ask for the method and the price in writing.

Should I cover my entire roof with an ice and water shield? That is a roofer's call for your roof, and it isn't something to settle from a search. If a roofer suggests it, ask them to explain in writing what it would add and what it costs.

How do I use a roof rake safely? Rake from the ground, never from the roof. Watch for overhead power lines² when you reach up with the rake.

Can I wait for the ice to melt before calling a roofer? Waiting for the melt won't dry the ceiling or insulation that are already wet. Keep going with the steps above while you arrange for a roofer to come.