https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qL04ibBNKr8<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||50px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]Hello, I\u2019m David Harris with M&M Gutters & Exteriors. Today, we\u2019re up in Park City, Utah, and if anyone knows anything about Utah, especially Park City, Utah, we are in snow country. Today, we want to talk a little bit about heat cable, particularly self-regulating heat cable.<\/span>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Understanding the Formation and Risks of Ice Dams” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ custom_margin=”10px||-1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]But before we dive into the heat cable aspect of things, I want to talk about the purpose and the reasons why \u2014\u00a0most importantly, the ice dams, how they\u2019re created, and the damage they can cause.\u00a0<\/span>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]In order to understand how the ice forms, you have to understand the thermodynamics of your home. As much as we like to create perfectly 100% energy-efficient homes, it\u2019s pretty impossible. You have your warm living space, and as you heat up that space, you lose some of that heat into your attic. Even on the coldest days, the attic temperature is warm enough that it\u2019ll melt the snow off your roof.\u00a0<\/span>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||60px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]Now, pan over and take a picture of that roof. Here, I think this particular home has a vaulted ceiling, but typically, you\u2019d have a roof lining above and an attic space. When you lose the heat from your home, that fills the attic space, and everything above the warm walls is melting snow. And as that water drains down the roof, as you get past the warm wall, you have what\u2019s called the warm roof or soffit area. From that area to the edge, where typically your gutters would be, the ice freezes.<\/span>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/avalaunchsites.com\/mandmgutters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Heat-cable5_resized.jpeg” alt=”How to Minimize Ice Dams using heat cables” title_text=”Heat cable5_resized” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||60px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_heading title=”How to Minimize Ice Dams” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ custom_margin=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-2px|||” custom_padding=”||29px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]There are a couple of things you can do to minimize ice dams.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]1. Add Insulation to Your Home:<\/strong> One is adding insulation to your home. If you add insulation to your home, it\u2019s like a blanket in the wintertime. You put more blankets on; you stay warmer \u2014 it\u2019s the same thing in the home. So, if you add more insulation in the attic, it prevents a lot of that heat from escaping. Not all of it \u2014 but more of it. It eliminates melting the snow on the cold days.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]2. Ensure Proper Attic Ventilation:<\/strong> Another thing you can do is make sure you have proper attic ventilation. Make sure you have enough air intake and exit so that as the heat rises, it circulates the cold air through, therefore keeping the attic at a cooler temperature.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]3. Install Roof Heat Tape:<\/strong> Even if you have the perfect system, all the insulation, and the proper attic ventilation, you\u2019re still in Park City. You minimize the ice buildup, but you\u2019re still going to have ice buildup. That brings us to the third option, which is heat cable. You can have some here on the roof \u2014 I have one because we\u2019re going to be stringing another eave on the other edge. Particularly, it\u2019s going to be the self-regulating heat cable. There are two types:[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\na. Constant Wattage Roof Heat Tape:<\/strong> There\u2019s constant wattage, which you can buy at Home Depot. If any of you homeowners or contractors have seen it, it\u2019s just thin wire with not a lot of insulation.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||60px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
b. Self-Regulating Roof Heat Tape: <\/strong>Then you have a self-regulating heat cable. I get asked a lot if that means it turns itself on and off, and no, self-regulating heat cable does not turn itself on and off. You have a couple of insulated sections of the heat cable. That black one in the very center \u2014 I don\u2019t know the exact science between it \u2014 that, when the temperature gets hotter, it expands, puts pressure on the wires, and actually causes the heat cable to not pull as much current. When it gets colder, it pulls more current. I don\u2019t know the exact science; I just call it \u201cheat cable magic.\u201d If it\u2019s 40 degrees out, you\u2019re going to be pulling less electricity to run the heat cable than if it\u2019s 25 degrees out.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”When to Install Roof Heat Tape vs. Replacing the Roof” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ custom_margin=”||-1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]If the homeowner is looking for heat cable, they ask if it needs to be zigzagged on the roofline or just in the gutters. I always try to figure out what\u2019s happening. In theory, if you have a new roof and the underlayment was underlaid properly \u2014 proper ice and water shield, all the proper flashing \u2014 then technically, you don\u2019t need a heat cable on your roof system. The roof systems are designed so that you can have ice dams on the eaves without leaking into the home.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||60px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]But that won\u2019t prevent the gutters from freezing over, and then you get the ice on your driveway and your decks. In order to prevent the gutter from freezing, you do need a heat cable in the gutters. Roofline depends on whether you\u2019re experiencing roof issues because of an improperly laid underlayment. That could lead to probably just doing a new roof. But if you\u2019re trying to buy time because your budget doesn\u2019t allow you to do a new roof at that time, then yes, you can put a heat cable up there to prevent the ice dams if you\u2019re having roof issues. Otherwise, have it at a minimum in the gutters so you won\u2019t have ice overflowing your gutters.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/avalaunchsites.com\/mandmgutters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Heat-Cable7_resized.jpg” alt=”When to Install Roof Heat Tape vs. Replacing the Roof” title_text=”Heat Cable7_resized” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||60px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_heading title=”Do You Need Roof Heat Tape in Dead Valleys?” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ custom_margin=”||-2px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]We all know that architects don\u2019t design as well as they should for areas where ice is, so you\u2019ll have a lot of what we call dead valleys or crickets. In those locations, even if you have a perfectly laid underlayment and roof, I would suggest heat cable in those areas because if you get five inches of ice buildup there, it could possibly go behind the siding and go over the step flashing that\u2019s laid against the side.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||50px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]If you have any questions, reach out to our company. We can come and assess the issue. I\u2019m also a big believer that if you start small, put it in the gutters, and go a winter to see what happens with the commercial-grade or self-regulating heat cable, you can always add more on zigzag rooflines. That way, you don\u2019t go crazy with the heat cable, which can get pricey. You can start small and add on based on your needs.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”How to Install Heat Cables to Prevent Ice Dams” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ custom_margin=”||1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-2px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]I\u2019ve strung my heat cable. We\u2019re actually powering up over here, but the eave we\u2019re doing it on is over the ridgeline, so we\u2019ll have to do some attaching here to get it back over here. But before we do that, there was something I wanted to tell you in regard to the soffits and the warm walls.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]If you look here, you\u2019ve got the pitch of the line, then the exterior of the home, and you have that last two and a half\/three feet. If you\u2019re going to be zigzagging the eaves of your home, it\u2019s important to understand that for the heat cable to build that trough and keep the ice from building up, that zigzag has to go high enough to where it\u2019s at least six inches on the interior of that wall.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||50px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]Here, we have a slight roof. Your zigzag would here, out of two and a half feet \u2014 then you\u2019ve got six-inch framing \u2014 would probably be three, three and a half feet to get inside that warm wall to where you get into the attic space. Otherwise, you could possibly get some ice buildup above the heat cable, which defeats the whole purpose of heat cables, which is to get rid of an ice dam.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Roof Heat Tape Installation Patterns” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ custom_margin=”||1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||50px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]Also important to know that your standard pattern is two feet wide by however high you need. You will still get snow buildup in between those zigzags because the heat cable is amazing, but it\u2019s not a solar shield. You\u2019ll still get a little bit of snow scuff, but it keeps all of the ice from building up because that triangle pattern gives it easy access to run to the gutters. Water follows a path of least resistance.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/avalaunchsites.com\/mandmgutters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Heat-Cable1_resized.jpeg” alt=”Roof Heat Tape Installation Patterns ” title_text=”Heat Cable1_resized” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||50px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_heading title=”Understanding Snow Rails on Metal Roofs” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ custom_margin=”||-2px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]I mentioned before in regards to getting the zigzags within the warm wall. As you can see, in this case, I\u2019m not going to do that. It\u2019s a metal roof; they\u2019re designed to have ice buildup. Because the snow rail is two feet off the edge, it wants to melt the edge so it doesn\u2019t fall down. If I decided we have to get it up higher than the warm wall up to this point where it\u2019s in the warm wall, then I\u2019m melting all the snow that\u2019s against the snow rail.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||50px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]Eventually, all the snow above it will slide down. That snow that slides down, because I have now eliminated the snow rail because I melted all the snow that was helping keep it up, is now going to crash down on our heat cable and potentially rip it off.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Where to Place Heat Cable on a Metal Roof With Snow Rails” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ custom_margin=”||-2px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||50px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]If you have a metal roof, and you\u2019re doing a snow rail on it to prevent the snow slide, you can do heat cable on the metal roof, but you do not want to bring it past that snow rail \u2014 unless you\u2019re doing multiple levels of snow rail. If this had another snow rail above it, then I would bring the zigzag up higher to get it inside the warm wall. But because I have nothing above it protecting this expensive electrical heat cable, I\u2019m keeping it below the snow rail so the snow rail will protect it from getting ripped off the roof if the snow wants to slide.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”How to Install Roof Heat Tape in Relation to Snow Rails” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ custom_margin=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||50px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]Here\u2019s your snow rail. We got a good six-inch radius around the heat cable that\u2019ll melt in the wintertime. Like I said, we\u2019re at 29 inches a little over 2 feet. We\u2019ll do these zigzags at 18 inches\u2026 you actually want the snow and ice to form around the snow rail because that helps keep the other snow loaded up above from sliding down. So I\u2019ll mark all my brackets at 18 inches on the bottom, and that will melt the snow that otherwise would slide off onto the deck.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Heat Cable Installation Tips” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ custom_margin=”||-3px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||50px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]When it comes to stringing the heat cable, make sure you\u2019re not twisting the heat cable, so you\u2019re not bending it and have a twist in it. Make sure it lays the same way all the way through. That\u2019s the only thing. Also make sure the loops don\u2019t go past the front of the heat cable so you don\u2019t have a lot of slack in it so that it\u2019s more of a zigzag.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/avalaunchsites.com\/mandmgutters\/contact-us\/” button_text=”Learn More about Installing Heat Cables” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”16px” button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”40px” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”25px||25px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Our Related Blogs<\/h2>\n
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VIDEO LINK: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qL04ibBNKr8Hello, I\u2019m David Harris with M&M Gutters & Exteriors. Today, we\u2019re up in Park City, Utah, and if anyone knows anything about Utah, especially Park City, Utah, we are in snow country. Today, we want to talk a little bit about heat cable, particularly self-regulating heat cable.But before we dive into the heat […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3174,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"two_page_speed":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-heat-cables"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/avalaunchsites.com\/mandmgutters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/avalaunchsites.com\/mandmgutters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/avalaunchsites.com\/mandmgutters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/avalaunchsites.com\/mandmgutters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/avalaunchsites.com\/mandmgutters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3169"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/avalaunchsites.com\/mandmgutters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3192,"href":"https:\/\/avalaunchsites.com\/mandmgutters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3169\/revisions\/3192"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/avalaunchsites.com\/mandmgutters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/avalaunchsites.com\/mandmgutters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/avalaunchsites.com\/mandmgutters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/avalaunchsites.com\/mandmgutters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}