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Roof raking helps clear snowfall from your roof and, in turn, you hope that this prevents ice dams. But can roof raking actually cause them? Generally, no, it cannot. But you should note that while, in some cases, you might successfully prevent ice dams from forming near the edge of your roof by keeping it cleared with a roof rake, they could still form higher up on the roof, where you are unable to reach. This may leave you wondering: Does roof raking prevent ice dams? While it is not a 100% guaranteed way to prevent them, it does help.

In most municipalities, snow removal is compulsory in public spaces, including the sidewalk in front of your house, so you need to remove snow there. You could face fines for failure to clear your sidewalk in a timely manner—usually within 24 hours of the snowfall stopping. More importantly, your sidewalk needs to be safe for pedestrians to use, and you could face legal issues if someone slips on your sidewalk because you failed to clear it. Sidewalk removal services might seem expensive, but they’re well worth it to avoid these issues.

Removing snow from your roof can help prevent ice dams, but the best thing to do is address insulation issues in your attic. If you do decide to remove the snow manually, you should always use a roof rake rather than a shovel. You shouldn’t climb your snowy roof in any circumstance, and roof rake allows you to remove the snow from the ground or a ladder. For the best results, remove snow as soon as possible after it falls.

Snow can be too heavy for a snow blower and cause clogs in the chute. However, having the correct type of blower for the snow conditions can reduce the chances of it being too heavy for it to handle. Another trick for preventing clogs is to make multiple passes while it snows rather than waiting for it to finish snowing.