Water emergency? Our phone is answered 24/7. Call 515-216-4293
Reachable 24/7 · 515-216-4293 · Des Moines metro & Central Iowa Elite Restoration Services of Iowa, LLC · Iowa Reg. #C151765
Elite Restoration Services of Iowa, home Call 24/7: 515-216-4293

Winter guide

Ice Dam Water Damage: What to Do Inside Your Home

When an ice dam pushes water into your ceilings and walls, the roof goes to a roofer. The water inside is what we dry and document.

Call 515-216-4293 Request a free inspection

Free, no-obligation inspection within our service area. Work is billed only if you approve it in a signed work authorization.

Any hour, day or night. Our answering service takes your message and our office calls you back.

  • 5.0 from
    23 Google reviews
  • IICRC Certified Firm
  • BBB A+
  • Locally owned

Last updated · Written by the Elite Restoration Services of Iowa team

What should I do about water coming in from an ice dam?

Ice dams can push meltwater under shingles and into ceilings and walls. Roof and ice removal is a job for a roofer. Elite handles the interior water damage: finding where the water went in ceilings, insulation and walls, drying it, and documenting it for your insurance claim.

Signs an ice dam is leaking inside

  • Brown rings or bubbling paint on ceilings near exterior walls
  • Water dripping at window tops or along trim
  • Damp or sagging ceiling drywall
  • Wet insulation in the attic, if you can safely look

What to do

  1. Stay safe

    Do not climb on an icy roof. Sagging, water-filled ceilings can come down; keep people out from under them.

  2. Catch the water and protect belongings

    Buckets, tarps, and move furniture and electronics away.

  3. Call a roofer for the roof

    Ice and snow removal and roof repairs are roofing work. We do not do roof work.

  4. Photograph the damage

    Inside and, from the ground, outside.

  5. Call your insurer

    Open the claim and ask what they need.

  6. Dry the interior

    Moisture readings in ceilings and walls show how far the water traveled.

Water coming through the ceiling?

Call any hour. The on-site inspection is free, with no obligation, within our service area.

Call 515-216-4293 Request a free inspection

Free, no-obligation inspection within our service area. Work is billed only if you approve it in a signed work authorization.

Why ice dam leaks are easy to miss

Water from an ice dam can run along framing and into insulation before it shows on a ceiling, and it can repeat with every thaw. Wet insulation and drywall that stay damp can grow mold; the EPA says mold can begin growing within 24 to 48 hours on damp materials.

Insurance

Only your policy and adjuster can say what is covered. The usual order:

  1. Make the area safe and stop the source

    Shut off the water or wait for the fire department to release the building. Call 911 first for any fire, gas smell or electrical danger.

  2. Call your insurance company

    Opening the claim early lets you ask what your carrier needs from you. Only your policy and adjuster can say what is covered.

  3. Call Elite for a free inspection

    Our phone is answered 24/7. We look at what got wet or smoke-damaged and explain what it needs before any work is authorized.

  4. Document as we go

    Photos, moisture readings and a written scope are kept for the job, which is the record your adjuster reviews.

  5. Pick your repair contractor

    Once mitigation is done, the file goes to the contractor you choose.

You choose who does your repairs

Elite handles the emergency side: stopping further damage, drying and cleaning, and documenting the job. When it is time to rebuild, the choice of contractor is yours. Our photos, moisture logs and scope go to whichever contractor you pick, so nobody has to start from scratch.

  • You are never required to use any particular repair contractor
  • Your documentation goes with you: photos, moisture logs and a written scope
  • Work is billed only if you approve it in a signed work authorization
  • We're not a public adjuster, so we don't negotiate or settle claims

Related reading

Straight answers

Ice dam water damage: questions people ask

Don't see yours? Call 515-216-4293 any hour and ask.

Do you remove ice dams?

No. Ice and snow removal and roof repairs are roofing work. We handle the water damage inside: ceilings, walls, insulation and flooring.

Will the stain go away when it dries?

Not reliably, and drywall that got wet may need to be removed. Make sure the area reads dry before anyone patches or paints.

Is ice dam water damage covered by insurance?

It depends on your policy. Ask your adjuster. We document the job with photos, moisture logs and a written scope.

Is the inspection free?

Yes, within our service area, with no obligation. Our phone is answered 24/7.

Elite Restoration Services of Iowa, LLC and M&B Contractor Services LLC have the same owners. If you need repairs or rebuilding after mitigation, M&B is one option, but you are never required to use M&B. You are free to choose any contractor, and your choice will not affect the mitigation services Elite provides. We share your information with M&B only with your permission.

About Elite Restoration Services of Iowa

Elite Restoration Services of Iowa, LLC is a locally owned, independent restoration company at 751 NE 46th Ave, Des Moines, Iowa 50313, offering water, fire and smoke, mold, storm and sewage damage restoration. It has been fully operating since February 2026. Elite is an IICRC Certified Firm, BBB A+ accredited and Iowa registered contractor #C151765. Phone 515-216-4293, answered 24/7.

About EliteAll servicesService areasReviews

Call Elite. Consider it handled.

Request a free storm damage restoration inspection

515-216-4293

Calling is the most direct way to reach us, day or night. Prefer to type? Send this short form and our office will call you back.

  • 751 NE 46th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313
  • Free on-site inspection
  • Your choice of repair contractor

Free on-site inspections within our service area in the Des Moines metro and Central Iowa; ask us about any limits when you call. The inspection is free with no obligation. Mitigation, lab testing, and repair work are billed only if you approve them in a signed work authorization.

Elite Restoration Services of Iowa, LLC and M&B Contractor Services LLC have the same owners. If you need repairs or rebuilding after mitigation, M&B is one option, but you are never required to use M&B. You are free to choose any contractor, and your choice will not affect the mitigation services Elite provides. We share your information with M&B only with your permission.

Free inspection request

A few quick details and our office will call you back. All fields are required unless marked optional.

We use the information you submit only to respond to your request and provide our services. We do not sell your information. We will share it with M&B Contractor Services LLC or your insurance company only with your permission. Calls with Elite may be recorded. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Urgent? Call 515-216-4293 any hour.

Call 24/7 515-216-4293 Free inspection