Gel melt can be positioned directly on the roof or the ice dam to carve a deep channel into the ice buildup so that melt water has a channel to runoff into the gutter or downspout.
Magnesium chloride on roof.
It melts ice faster than sodium chloride does works at lower temperatures than sodium chloride and also melts larger volumes of ice.
Also it s the least likely to cause all the damage listed above.
Is your roof asphalt shingles.
Many ice melt products contain a mix of other types of salt.
Bare ground gel melt magnesium chloride gel is designed for alleviating issues of ice dam blockages.
According to a 2017 review in current nutrition and food science magnesium chloride and other magnesium salts like magnesium aspartate gluconate citrate and lactate have a bioavailability of between 50 and 67.
Rock salt is sodium chloride cheap and poor.
If you use it make sure it s pure magnesium chloride.
Calcium chloride is the best salt to use on ice dams according to handyman glenn haege.
Organic salts like magnesium chloride are slightly more effective than inorganic salts.
Another draw of magnesium chloride is that it s reasonably safe for your pets and more environmentally friendly.
It is not as likely to stain or cause corrosion as sodium chloride but it can damage wooden gutters.
Salt will leave a white residue and is very corrosive to unprotected.