To prevent ice dams, heat cables should be installed

Nov 15

Heat cable is not a popular choice for ice dam prevention. It's not easy to know what it is, and how to use it correctly. This three-part series explores heat cable. I explain how it works and where it shouldn't. What to avoid. How to design and install heat cables by roofers in.

A dam of snow

Minnesotans have terrible memories of the snowflake incident in October that brought back bad memories from early 2019. Immature ice dams can be seen adorning large and small homes. An ice dam, or ice ridge, is a layer of ice that forms around roof eaves, forcing water through the roof and into your house. You can think of them as mini-glaciers that can wreak havoc on your house if you don't pay attention. Minnesota greetings!

Insurance companies usually cover repairs to ice dams but not the cost of preventive maintenance. This has left many homeowners wondering how they can avoid this costly and inconvenient situation. Insurance companies may demand homeowners to pay expensive modifications in order to prevent future ice dams. Future claims related to ice dams could be rejected if these modifications have not been made.

ARCHITECTURAL ICE DAMS SOLUTIONS

Industry experts agree that improving your home's architecture is the best way to prevent ice dams. That includes insulation, ventilation, sealing all air leaks, and sealing heat escaping from places it shouldn't, and melting snow that shouldn’t. Remember that melting snow feeds the cycle of ice dams by re-freezing along the eaves. These home improvements have been completed hundreds over the last quarter-century. Average costs range from $10,000 to $30,000. The video below shows you the project's scope.

These are not the usual insulation and air-sealing projects. This is a difficult and messy job that can involve the demolition and reconstruction of both the home's exterior and interior. If done properly, this can be considered a significant improvement to your home that will reduce the risk of ice dams. It also increases energy efficiency. If it is done wrongly, it could be a waste of money that can worsen ice-dam concerns. Bummer.

ROOF CONSTRUCTION FOR ICE DAM PREVENTION

Roof shoveling, if done correctly, can help to prevent ice dams. First, the roof must be cleared of all snow on the roof. The removal of snow from the roof’s lowermost feet can lead to a worse condition called a double dam. This is where a secondary ice dam is formed.

Dam on two levels

Double dams can cause extensive damage and are difficult to get rid of. The impacted roof plans could be two- or three stories tall or otherwise impossible to reach. Roof raking from the top of a ladder or ground isn't able to remove all of it.

Snow removal is possible at home.

It's necessary for someone to climb up there, which is often not a good choice for a novice. Many homeowners have no other choice but to hire professionals. It is certainly expensive.

PREVENTION FROM ICE DAMS HEAT TAPE

Tape to keep yourself warm

All forms of ice prevention heat tape have the same fundamental idea. These cables melt the snow and ice on the roof by producing heat via electrical resistance. These channels allow water off the roof to escape and not back into the home. Heat cable's sole purpose, other than creating relief channels through snow/ice to help keep the eaves clear of snow, is to heat them.

It has been installed heat cables.

High-quality cables and someone who is experienced in using heat cables can provide years of reliable ice dam prevention. However, heat cables are not always the only solution to preventing ice dams. These houses were often found during our inspections. Even so, some industry skeptics insist that heat wires are not necessary.

Fort Wayne Roofers

Fort Wayne, IN

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