If the snow piles up on your roof unchecked, bad things can happen. When too much snow accumulates, dangerous ice dams can form. These ridges of ice keep the melted snow from properly draining, which can lead to leakage inside your home. Too heavy of a snow load can also cause structural damage to your roof. They just aren't meant to support that much weight. To avoid these problems, you'll want to keep a close eye on your roof during the snowy season, and promptly clean it off with a roof rake. To help you find the right one for your home, we've compiled a list of the best of the best. Garant GPRR24 Yukon Snow Roof Rake Let the Snow Come DownYou'll be knocking the snow off of your roof in no time with this fantastic roof rake. Best OverallFind on Amazon Your roof rake doesn’t need to cost a fortune to do a good job. This dependable one from Garant is proof of that. Its blade is a full 24-inches wide, which means you can remove more snow from your roof with each pass. Additionally, the angled blade is made from polyethylene. This material is rigid enough to take out the snow without breaking, but not so sharp or rough that it’ll damage your roof. To make this rake longer, you can add extensions onto the handle. If you attach all three, it will extend 15-feet up. This height is a good fit for most one-story homes. Pros Lightweight aluminum handle Non-slip grip won’t slide out of your hands while you’re using it Awesome value for the price Cons Only extends 15-feet, so it won’t be long enough for many taller homes. Avalanche Snow Rake Deluxe 20 Wheels to the RescueYou won't risk damaging your roof or straining your back when you use this lightweight roof rake since it has built-in wheels. Most LightweightFind on Amazon Some roof rakes weigh a lot and are hard to keep in place up on your roof. To help save your arm muscles, you might want to try a lightweight roof rake like this one from Avalanche. The aluminum handle is light and easy to maneuver. There’s also a vinyl grip on the end, which makes it comfortable to hold onto. Once you get this roof rake onto your roof, the two wheels will help it roll. These wheels also keep the blade from coming in direct contact with your roof, so you’re less likely to damage your shingles. Pros Lightweight design that won’t weigh your arms down as much as some other models Wide (24-inch) rake to take off more snow with each pass Sturdy 1.5-inch wheels that are safe to use with standard asphalt shingles Extends to 20 feet in length Cons The smaller wheels aren’t a good fit for a roof with solar panels or cedar shake roofs, though Avalanche does offer options with larger wheels. SNOWPEELER Premium Roof Rake Lift It HighHave a tall roof? That's no problem for this telescopic roof rake that can extend to 30-feet. Longest ReachFind on Amazon If you live in a taller house, you need a roof rake that can really go the distance. Otherwise, you’ll need to bring the ladder out and try to balance on it as you slide your roof rake over your roof. Not fun. Since this one can adjust to a full 30-feet, it’s a great fit for houses with multiple stories or high peaks. Once you get it up there, the commercial-grade cutting blade on the rake will easily cut through compact snow. As you push through the snow, it’ll follow the snow slide to fall off of your roof without getting stuck. This slide is tear-resistant, to help ensure it lasts a long time. Pros Comes with six extensions to help you reach high places on your roof The heavy-duty design can handle packed snow Snaps together easily so you won’t waste any time assembling it when you’re ready to remove snow Cons Higher price point than lightweight models When you extend it all the way, it’ll bend a bit in the middle and be a little harder to get up onto your roof Sesiwillen Roof Snow Rake Removal Tool Save Your BackThe wide head cutter on this roof rakes slices through the snow, so it comes down without as much effort on your part. Easiest to Use Find on Amazon No matter which tool you use, snow removal involves physical labor. The effort can really put a strain on your back. If you’re looking for a better way, give this snow rake from Sesiwillen a try. It’s designed with features that allow you to efficiently remove the snow without working harder. For instance, the big cutter head slices easily through the snow, helping to break up even frozen chunks. As you’re moving the rake along the roof, the wheels will help you guide it around. As you reach a new patch of snow and knock it loose, all of it will glide smoothly down thanks to the 20-foot long snow slide on the front of this rake. Clearing your roof will still be work, but it won’t be nearly as difficult as it could be with a different type of roof rake. Pros Wide cutter head that can handle a lot of snow at once Extends up to 20 feet to help you reach hard to reach areas of your roof Wheels on the front help prevent damage Takes less physical effort to get the snow removed, which can help prevent back strain and pain Cons When the wind is blowing, it can catch the nylon slide and make this rake hard to control, so it’s definitely best for non-windy days. Garelick 89421 Snow Roof Rake Rolling AlongYou'll be clearing your roof quickly with this snow rake from Garelick. The unique roller design makes it a cinch to roll back and forth up there, saving you effort and your shingles from damage. Best with RollersFind on Amazon While many roof rakes have wheels to help keep your shingles safe, traditional wheels have a downside. They can get stuck fairly easily and stop gripping the roof if they hit an icy patch. To help overcome this flaw, Garelick created a neat roof rake with rollers. Instead of the standard circular design, these wider, cylindrical rollers spin easily on the ice. They also make it simple to go and down over your entire roof, so you can get the job done quickly. This way, you can get back inside and relax, knowing that ice dams aren’t going to be a problem for a while. Pros Extends to 21-feet to help you reach the roof The aluminum handle is lightweight yet strong Can remove the extension handles during storage to take up less space Cons The rollers are a pain to put on during the assembly process. Make sure you read the directions carefully and have a little patience as you go. It’s a lightweight roof rake that won’t work well for really heavy snow Frequently Asked Questions How long of a roof rake do I need? When you’re trying to get the snow off of your roof, you want to make sure you have the right length of rake. Otherwise, you won’t be able to reach up there and get the snow down. However, keep in mind that you don’t need to clear your entire roof of snow. If you get the first five feet or so cleaned off, you will prevent ice dams. For many one-story homes, a 15- or 20-foot pole will be plenty long enough. If you have a higher roof, you’ll want to get a longer one. Can I use a roof rake on my roof? You can safely clear off most roofs with a roof rake. However, you’ll want to find one that won’t damage your roof. If you have shingles, you’ll need to make sure you go with a plastic rake or one that uses wheels to keep the edges from causing any damage as you go. If you have solar panels, you’ll want to be especially careful when removing snow. Otherwise, if you come down hard on the solar panels, you risk breaking them.