In this video master electrician for ask this old house scott caron helps a homeowner install heat cables on his roof to stop ice dams.
Heat wires for ice roof.
Even on metal roofs the sun and building heat combine to melt accumulated snow at the roof snow interface.
The type of heat tape used on roofs and gutters to prevent ice buildup is properly called heat cable.
The thermwell 200 ft.
Snow is porous and allows water to flow.
Heat cables can be installed to minimize ice formation and retention on roofs with them you can prevent a lot of damage to your roof that can result from the buildup of ice dams.
Water will flow as long as the roof surface stays above freezing.
If you live in an area with snow and ice in the wintertime investing in a heat cable now can save you costly repairs in the future.
Long for large roofs.
The heat cable prevents ice from forming allowing the melting snow and ice to find a runoff path into the downspout and away from your home.
Item 217163 model adks 1000.
Remove snow before it freezes and turns into ice it s ideal to remove snow from your roof before ice dams are formed.
This de icing kit comes with shingle clips and is 200 ft.
Easyheat adks 200 ft 1000 watt roof heat cable.
The term heat tape refers to another product an insulated electrical wire applied to water pipes to keep them from freezing and bursting.
Zig zag cables for metal roofs.
Heat cable is a similar product but it is designed for installation on the edge of your home s roof near the eaves.
Ice is not porous and will trap water.
Secure shingle clips to roof shingles using a flathead screwdriver making sure to align them in a zigzag pattern.
Clip in the cable along the same zigzag pattern as the shingle clips.
Use to help prevent ice from forming under the edge of your shingles.