As a home inspector in the Stillwater Mn area, I get a lot of questions about ice dams

Ice dams can cause dangerous icicles, and cause damage to the house.

You can help reduce ice dam problems by sealing the access panel to the attic and by increasing ventilation and insulation. Sometimes those actions aren’t enough, so removing the snow at the edge of the roof is your best option. If you use heat cables, don’t use a snow rake.