Everything you need to know about De-icing Cable

Are you tired of repairing the damage that keeps happening every time the water seeps into your walls because of the snow that melts during winter? Well, there are some efficient ways to get rid of it without damaging your home. And one of them is getting de-icing cables installed. So, we bring up to you almost everything you need to know about them.

De-icing cables are usually installed to prevent your home from roof damage; they are self-heat regulating wires that melt off the snow before it melts naturally and seeps into your roof and the top of your walls. This makes the melted water flow freely away from home through the gutters. They can be easily installed by ourselves, but getting them done with a bit of professional help would make it better for you to completely understand how it works and maintain it.

The de-icing cables are ideal for dormers, skylights, peaked porches, and an inclined roof with non-combustible tab shingles and metal or plastic gutters and downspouts. 

Some homeowners also install these cables in the gutters and the end of their roofs, which will allow the melting snow to drift down into the gutters and flow through the downspouts without refreezing.

Once you’re getting ready and you know that you can proceed to install them for your home, all you need to do is just make a rough diagram of what your house roof looks like along with the exact lengths of your downspouts and your gutter, send them to the installation services. They will tell how much your heating product will exactly need.

When installing the cable, they make sure to install it through the downspout to avoid the ice refreezing. One end of the cable is at the bottom. The other end is connected to a waterproof junction box, and that’s where the power meets the wire to get the warmth into the cable. A switch controls it. Some have controllers that will turn the cables on and off without using a switch by sensing temperatures and moisture and operate the system only when required.

The de-icing cables vary their heat output as the surrounding temperature changes. The colder it gets, the more heat is generated by the specially engineered conductive core. Conversely, as the temperature warms, the core produces less heat. The innovative self-regulating heat cables react to variations in temperatures at each point along the cable and deliver heat only when needed, saving some energy.

They usually last for 3 to 5 years. But, unfortunately, some people forget to turn off the power even during the warmer months, which wastes energy. So using them wisely can save you the time and energy of dealing with the snow.

Make sure that the cables you’re getting installed are UL, CSA, and FM approved! So it’s high time you get the de-icing cables rather than exhausting yourselves trying to get the snow off the roof by yourself.

Make sure that the cables you’re getting installed are UL, CSA, and FM approved! So it’s high time you get the de-icing cables rather than exhausting yourselves trying to get the snow off the roof by yourself.