Are our heat cables necessary to prevent ice dams?

May 20

Heat cable has a negative reputation when it comes to ice dam prevention. Most people are not familiar with heat cables and how they should be installed. This series consists of three parts. I'll explain the heating cable in detail.

A dam made of ice

Minnesotans are haunted by terrible memories of early 2019, as the snowflakes that fell in October brought back horrible memories. Many Minnesotans have terrible memories of early 2019 after the snowflakes in October caused impassable streets and flooded basements. An ice dam is a ridge or ring of ice on roofs that causes meltwater to enter your home. If you ignore them, they can create mini-glaciers in your home that can cause major damage. Minnesota, greetings!

Insurance companies typically cover repairs to ice dams, but they do not cover the cost of preventing them from happening in the future. Many homeowners wonder how to avoid this expensive and annoying problem. As a result of ice dam claims, some insurance companies require homeowners to pay costly modifications to prevent future ones. Failure to make these modifications could result in future ice-dam-related claims being denied.

ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTIONS FROM ICE DAMS

Industry experts agree that ice dams can be prevented by improving the architecture of your house. This includes insulation, ventilation, and sealing any air leaks that allow heat from escaping where it shouldn't. Remember that meltwater from melting snow refreezes at the eaves and feeds the ice-dam cycle. Over the last quarter-century, hundreds of these home renovation projects have been completed. The average cost ranged from $10,000 to $30,000. The video below gives an overview of the project's scope.

These aren't your usual air-sealing projects. This dirty and difficult job usually involves the demolition or partial reconstruction of the interior or exterior of the home. This can be a major home improvement, which reduces the possibility of ice dams. It also increases energy efficiency. Incorrectly done, it can cause ice dam problems and be a waste. Bummer.

SHOVELING ICE DAM PREVENTION ROOF

Roof shoveling, if done correctly, can help to prevent ice dams. First, remove all snow from any roof affected by icedams. Contrary to popular belief, removing snow from your roof below the roofline can cause a second ice dam, or worse, the creation of an ice dam on the roof.

Dam on 2 levels

Double dams can be very difficult to get rid of and can cause major damage if not treated promptly. The impacted roof structures maybe 2 or 3 stories high, or otherwise difficult to access. Therefore, it is impossible to remove all snow up to the peak with roof raking.

Snow removal can also be done at home.

This requires someone to climb up the ladder, which isn't a good idea. Many homeowners will choose to hire professionals for this job, which is often very expensive.

PREVENTION of ICE DAMS with HEAT TAP

Tape to keep your warm

All forms of ice dam prevention heat tape have the same idea. These cables use electricity to generate heat, melting the snow and ice from the roof. These channels allow water to flow away from the roof, rather than back into the home. Heat cable's only purpose is to produce relief channels through snow/ice, and not to keep eaves clear.

Installed heat cables

A high-quality cable with the right quality can give you a decade of reliable prevention from ice dams. Heat cables may not always be the best option for preventing ice dams. These houses were frequent targets of our inspections. Others argue that heat cables are not necessary.

New Orleans Roofing Expert

1948 Industrial Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058

(504) 285 7180