Why Install De-Icing Cables this Winter?
If you reside in the region which is prone to heavy snowfall and winters, there is a wide chance of witnessing ice dams over your roof. Even if the roof of your house is slanting, the ice tends to freeze over it. Do you wonder why and how? That usually happens when the melting ice doesn’t entirely flow into the gutters through roof and downspouts. As the temperature drops, the resulting ice blockage creates a dam that further resists the melting ice from flowing.
The ice does not only cause a nuisance but also results in damages of roof coverings, gutters and downspouts. The melted pool on the roof can leak into the building leading to the dampness of walls and ceilings, form icicles over ice-filled gutters and so on. The interior damage by the leaky ice water can result in expensive repairs or maybe reconstruction.
The old school way to deal with ice dams is, shovels and other ice eliminating tools, but using them can be dangerous if you are not a pro. However, with modern equipment and options like roof de-icing cables, you can get rid of the roof ice dams easily and effectively.
What are the De-icing Cables?
De-icing cables are installed by the edges of the roof. They do not keep the snow away from the roof; instead, these wires generate heat that melts the falling ice, prevents it from freezing further and creates a path for the snow to fall directly into the gutters and downspouts.
The reason for installing de-icing cables near the edges is as the ice dam begins to melt because of the low temperature, the melted ice refreezes near the sides of the roof, creating a thick barrier of ice along the edges of the roof. It is because of this reason that de-icing cables are fastened into position over the eaves (inside gutters sometimes) so that the heat from the wires can melt the thick layer of ice.
It is prudent to minimize your vulnerability by using affordable and most direct easy-to-install de-icing cables that can offer adequate protection where you cannot turn the weather conditions. Made to resist the exposure to weather conditions like storm, heat, sunlight and ice, de-icing cables provide long term dam ice prevention.
The Benefits Over Utility Costs-
Being a homeowner and running a home means paying daily bills which might make you think that installing de-icing cables means adding to the electricity bill. Many homeowners believe that they are simply driving up the cost of their electricity bill whereas these cables are only used during winters.
I would like to ask them to think otherwise- Would you rather like to pay for the damaged roof, for changing the roof drainage system or remodelling the walls of the house caused by ice dams? The constant repair work will cost you more than the little increment on your electricity bill. Save your home this winter by investing in de-ice cables and sit back stress-free.