You see them a lot this time of year-icicles hanging off roofs. They're beautiful to look at, but removing those chunks of ice can be tough. Madeleine Rivera spoke to an expert on how to fix and prevent this problem from happening.
ALBANY, N.Y. -- It's been a busy winter for roofing contractor Steven Giuffre.
"People complaining of leaks due to the snow and excessive snow on the roof," he said.
All that snow has got him dealing with icicles occasionally a couple of feet long.
"The snow melts at the ridge of the roof, the water runs down, and it re-freezes at the overhang, creating a dam," he said.
While they can be pretty, Giuffre said the icicles and ice dams are usually signs of an insulation problem.
"You've got a lot of heat escaping through your attic," he said.
And, the ice dams can lead to other headaches such as torn gutters, loose shingles, water back-up, and leaks.
Ice damming can happen in old buildings and new buildings, posing some safety risks for residents. A section of the sidewalk in front of 36 South Pearl Street was blocked off by the city Wednesday afternoon. The problem: icicles hanging down from the roof of the building.
Oftentimes, removing the ice dams requires the help of a professional. But, Giuffre has some advice.
"Rake the first couple of feet of snow with a snow rake. Throwing up some rock salt wouldn't hurt. To prevent this from happening, I usually recommend cladd insulation," he said.
And, with a few more inches of snow in the forecast, it's safe to say he'll be busy for at least the next several days.