Ice Dam Heating Cables Installation

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.

Ice dam heating cables installation. Installing preassembled ice dam heat cables. Most heat cables are either on or off which can result in needlessly high electrical bills if the temperatures rise and the system is still running. 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. Deicing cables heat the roof edge and keep it free of ice.

Roof and gutter de icing cables prevent ice from sticking around during sub zero temperatures. For a detailed pdf manual on our ice dam heat cables click the following. This dam traps water allowing it to work under the shingles. While it may seem like the perfect solution to ice dam formation heat cables come with quite a few disadvantages as well.

In addition to cleaning out your gutters and installing gutter accessories to keep drainage clear roof cables also called heat cables offer added protection from a buildup of rooftop ice dams. The ice dam company has a strategic partnership with the heat cable store another source for quality self regulating heat cable for managing ice dams and ice dam prevention. It s a topic few understand in depth both in terms of functionality and installation. Let s do what we can to protect our homes and avoid the stress and expense of damage caused by ice dams in the future.

Install the cables along the roof edge where ice tends to build up. It will be plug in ready and will not require any electrical wiring. Secure shingle clips to roof shingles using a flathead screwdriver making sure to align them in a zigzag pattern. Ice dam heat cable manual.

Your pre assembled ice dam heat cable will arrive at your chosen length. Heat cable has a dubious reputation in the ice dam prevention world.