There are many popular, quicker solutions but they have drawbacks:

• Attaching electric heating cables will melt channels in the ice, sometimes alleviating a problem, but they use a significant amount of electrical energy while being an eyesore on most roofs.
• Removing gutters will keep them from becoming ice traps, but gutters keep roof water away from the foundation.
• Attacking ice dams every winter with an axe or ice pick will damage the roof surface.
• Although removing snow from the roof will also help, removing ice dams and snow is not always easy or safe to do.
• For certain older houses with complicated roofs, it may be impossible to completely eliminate ice dams without resorting to several different techniques.

The preferred solution for most houses is to keep house heat out of the attic by air sealing and insulating.