What is heat cable?

Essentially, it's a cable that heats up, with the purpose of keeping water in its liquid state. It is used to keep exterior pipes from freezing, It's used in driveways and walkways to keep snow off. It's also used on the eaves of roofs to prevent ice dams. Heat cable comes in many forms and has many uses. Not all heat cable is made the same. Some cheaper heat cable is only meant to operate in warmer temperatures above 20 degrees, while other more well-made heat cables are meant for more harsh conditions.

Why get heat cable?

Like stated above, the main goal of heat cable is to provide water a path off the roof and onto the ground. Heat cable is mainly a safety tool used to prevent roof damage, gutter and downspout damage, and other damage stemming from ice falling oof of your roof. Heat cable stops ice dams, prevents gutters and downspouts from freezing over and ripping off your home, and provides a safe path for the ice to melt off the roof. When heat cable is used in a driveway or walkway, it helps prevent those paths from freezing over, which prevents slips and other accidents.

What's an ice dam?

An ice dam forms in the winter when there's snow on your roof. The warm air from inside your home rises through your attic and through the top of your roof, allowing snow to melt and flow off your roof. When the water reaches your eave, where its much colder, it freezes again and creates an ice dam. Ice continues to build up in this area and can lead to roof damage and leaking.

What's the difference between constant wattage cable and self regulating cable?

Constant wattage heat cable is designed as a simple, affordable solution for small ice problems typically found in gutters and valleys. Constant wattage cable plugs in, heats up, and stays hot until you unplug it or otherwise kill the power. Self-regulating heat cable is designed for harsher winter conditions and is meant to last much longer. Self-regulating cable fluctuates in its power consumption, initially taking on an inrush of amperage as it heats up in colder temperatures. After a few minutes and the cable has begun to heat up, the power consumption slowly settles, saving you money.

Why get my heat cable professionally installed?

A professional install saves you time and headache. Having an industry professional with the experience needed to properly install your heat cable system has many benefits. Like anything else, going cheaper means taking a risk. For example, a roofing company that doesn't know much about electrical work won't know how to properly test or troubleshoot your system. Many heat cable systems require specific things to be installed or changed out in a breaker panel. For example, a 415-foot piece of Drexan 5-2 self-regulating heat cable will need to be on a 30-amp 240v breaker. That circuit needs to have 10-guage Romex running to power locations. On top of that, the electrical connection needs to be properly spliced and sealed in a way that water will not get in. And on top of all of that, the heat cable layout itself needs to be designed and installed correctly, otherwise it can cause more issues with ice forming in new places. Even experienced electricians may not know much about the heat cable world.

How can I customize my system?

Depending on your needs, heat cable can be customized to your specific roof and gutter system. We take drone shots of the roof and with our combined experience and the homeowner's word, we can target the problem areas where ice is the worst and find a heat cable layout that works. Some homeowners prefer to have thermostats or switches, or a combination of the two. A thermostat helps automatically regulate a system, and a switch allows the homeowner to manually toggle the system on and off. Switches can range from a simple light switch by the front door, to a button on an exterior controller, to a tap on your phone that connects to your smart home. Some homeowners prefer a plug-in system. Flipping the breaker works too.

Glued vs. Screwed clips?

You have a couple options when it comes to securing heat cable to your roof. Typically, heat cable is fastened to roof surfaces using glue and/or screws. Screws are secure, but they will leak eventually... even if they're glued. It's cheaper and easier for contractors because they can finish the whole job in one visit. If only glue is used, the clips need a few days to cure and there will need to be a second visit to complete the job. The big upside is that you don't risk any leaking from screw holes. Glue can be very strong if it's the right stuff and properly applied.

What is snow retention?

Snow retention is a general term for any bars or brackets that keep the snow on the roof. Why keep snow on the roof? To prevent it from sliding off all at once and hurting someone or damaging something. Snow retention must be properly installed to utilize the systems full weight capacity. If snow retention is not properly installed, at can break or slip, damaging the roof and not properly hold more snow. Snow retention is most commonly seen on metal roof surfaces where the ice can't grip as well and is more prone to sliding off. Pair with heat cable, snow retention will allow the ice to build up and the heat cable slowly melts the ice and creates a path for the ice to safely melt and travel off the roof.

What if I have gutter guards or leaf filters?

No problem, we simply add an extra line of heat cable resting on top of the screen. Our glue-on clips ensure that no screws will ruin your leaf filter. With heat tape on top of your screen and in your gutter, there won't be any issues with ice flowing over your gutters.

Can I add a controller to my heat cable system?

Yes! We can build a custom control box to fit your home's needs. Need a thermostat to automate the system? We can do that. Need to control your system from your phone while you're away? No problem, we can install a Wi-Fi switch on the heat cable circuit.

What if I don't have dedicated heat cable circuits?

No problem. We can safely install a control box off of your outdoor air conditioning unit for the heat cable's power source. This is much cheaper than paying another electrician to install a new circuit on your home.