Roof Rakes Available (temporarily) in Danbury

Mike Gillerlane, a senior assistant vice president with Amica Insurance, worries about ice dams.

According to Amica, ice dams form as ice builds up along your roof, and they prevent water from melted snow and ice from draining off the roof, said Gillerlane. Water can then leak into your house and cause costly damage.

“Now is the time homeowners can take some preventative measures that will save them time, money and stress in the months to come,” Gillerlane said in November. If your gutters are frozen and your roof is snow-covered, the best you can do now is remove the snow.

Winter weather presents several threats to a home, said Julie Rochman, president and CEO of the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. “Where ice dams form, roof damage and water penetration into the attic are likely.”

This information was provided by Allstate Insurance with an eye toward prevending ice dams.

• Keep gutters and downspouts clear of leaves and natural debris.
• Identify areas of heat loss in your attic and then properly insulate those areas.
• Wrap or insulate heating ductwork in order to reduce heat loss through the attic.
• Use a snow rake or soft broom to clear fresh snowfall from gutters.
• Avoid using any sharp tools or ice picks on gutters or downspouts.
• To avoid getting hurt by falling icicles or avalanching snow, don't climb on your roof or work on a ladder beneath a roof that has large amounts of snow on it.

If you're interested in buying a roof rake, as of 9 a.m. Sunday, Home Depot on Federal Road was sold out of roof rakes.

At about 9:15 a.m. BJ's on Federal Road was sold out of roof rakes.

At about 9:30 a.m., Stew Leonard's on Federal Road had 15 roof rakes for $59.99 each.