What are Roof Heat Wires?
Roof heat wires are just what they sound like. They are lengths of cable, tape, or wires that are installed on your shingles. They heat up to stop water from freezing on your roof. This setup effectively illustrates the usage of roof heat wires during the cold months.
Why You Shouldn’t Use a Roof Heat Cable for Ice Dams
Roof heat cables sound like an innovative and clever way of preventing ice dams from forming on your roof. Before you hire someone to install roof heater cables, think about why they are not a good choice. There are many details about roof heat wires that people often misunderstand.
1) Roof Heat Cables Can Be Dangerous
Think about it; you are putting heated pieces of wire on top of your roof. A Washington Post safety notice says that roof heat cables cause about 2,000 structure fires each year. They also lead to over 100 injuries. So are roof heat cables dangerous? They absolutely can be. But roofing savers are not the only concern with this de-icing method. It often uses a lot of heat wires.
2) Heat Cables are not a Cure-All
Many people who look for roof heat cables have a common misunderstanding. They believe these cables will remove all the ice from the roof. That isn’t how heating cables work. Roof heater cables only melt snow and ice directly around them. When they work, you will usually see thin streaks. These are the clear paths that cables melt in the snow and ice.
Their job is to clear space and melt ice. This helps stop ice dams and lets water flow to the gutters. Heating cables won’t protect your roof if your gutters are clogged. They also won’t clear all the snow and ice from your roof without the extra strategic placement of heat wires.
3) Cables are an Added Utility Expense
If you have an average-sized roof, you will be looking at an average cost of $7.25 per day to run your roof heat cables. So it’s smart to have an on and off switch so you can use the cables as needed. In the winter, you will probably need to run your heater cables all day for many days. This can add up to a lot of extra money. Now the argument can be made that $7.25 per day still adds up to less money than repairing a collapsed roof, which is true. Still, the continuous expense still highlights the cost implications of roof heat wires.
But in most cases, homeowners don’t actually need to install roofing heater cables. Some regular maintenance and some due diligence are enough for most homes to avoid dangerous ice dams in the winter. For instance, raking your roof is an effective way to protect it when snow accumulates. This method is both safe and cheap against ice dams, thus reducing reliance on heat wires. Follow some of this advice for a strong roof system.
4) Roof Heat Cables Need Precise Installation
If the contractor you hire to install your heater cables doesn’t have much experience, problems can arise. Without utmost investment in the project, your cables can become more of a problem. This is worse than if they were never installed at all. The ice they melt can easily refreeze on other parts of your roof. This happens if they are not installed cleverly and strategically. They must be installed to direct all melted ice to the ground or gutters. This shows how important it is to install roof heat wires correctly.
5) Cables Look Bad in Summer and Spring
Unless you live in the Arctic Circle, you aren’t going to need your roof heat cables year-round. In Winter, snow covers most of the cables. But in Spring and Summer, the cables are fully visible. They resemble broken Christmas lights scattered on your roof. The associated heat wires don’t add any aesthetic value.
Also, roof heat cable installation isn’t exactly DIY work. In short, it isn’t worth taking down your roof heating wires each year. Reinstalling them every winter can be a hassle. The average cost for roof heat cable installation is between $450 and $1,200. So you want to avoid the eyesore altogether.
6) There are Better Ways to Solve Ice Dams
There are much better ways to prevent ice dams. This is the most important reason why roof heat cables are ineffective. In most cases, ice dams occur because heat escapes from inside. This heat melts the snow on top of the roof. The melted snow runs down to a colder area of the roof and refreezes. Fixing these heat leaks is the most effective way to prevent ice dams. It will also lower your heating costs significantly more than relying solely on roof heat wires.
