Tips on how to protect your home from winter ice damage

To help minimize ice dam formation on your roof and protect your home from winter damage, Allstate Insurance Company offers the following tips: Keep gutters and downspout clear of leaves and natural debris. Identify areas of heat loss in your attic and properly insulate them to prevent heat from escaping. Minimize heat loss through the attic by wrapping or insulating all heating ductwork. Avoid using sharp tools or ice picks on gutters or downspouts, which can damage roofs. Use a snow rake or soft broom to clear fresh snowfall from gutters. Contact a professional snow removal company to clear existing ice dams. Protect yourself by avoiding falling icicles or avalanching snow. Avoid getting on the roof and working on a ladder or beneath a roof that has accumulated large amount of snow.