What are de-icing cables?
After a heavy snowfall, snow accumulates on your rooftop. If it is not eradicated at the soonest, over time, it may damage your house structurally. The ice melts and causes leaks and moulds. This is where de-icing cables are used. These cables are installed on the lining of the roof, close to the edges. What this structure does is that it lets the ice accumulate behind the cable leaving the edges clear of any heavy ice. Additionally, these cables output heat to melt the ice and prevent it from re-freezing. De-icing cables are insulated and are specially meant for roof and gutter installation. Although de-icing cables are all-encompassing for roofs and gutters, they are the most compatible with the most common roofing -the asphalt shingles. The wires are easy to install, and if the installation is done with the help of solid and durable clips, these wires stay in their designated place for years.
Advantages of de-icing cables
- Clearance of snow: The common misconception is that the cables keep the snow away from the edges. That is not the better truth. The cables melt the ice before it has the time to freeze along the margins and borders of the roof. This is how it keeps the frost away -by melting it. If you have a roof that has a narrow slope, cables could be an excellent choice to keep the ice away. Fresh ice would slide to the edge where the cable would melt it. It is an effective way of keeping the heavyweight of the ice away from your roof. Additionally, cables do not hamper the appearance of the top. They sit there, do the work and do not make anything seem shabby.
- Form: The most common and user-friendly version of the cables is their ice tape form. It is self-adhesive and has a very convenient installation process.
- Protection: The cost of the icing cables will not seem as much if you consider how well they are protecting your house. Investing in de-icing cables to steer clear of any structural damage, roofing problems, moulds, and leakages could prove to be one wise decision.
Self-regulating cables
Self-regulating cables can maintain a temperature of 185F. Self-regulating de-icing cables are very commonly used on metallic roofs and downspouts. This makes their installation more demanded in the commercial industries. As the name suggests, these cables are intelligent and self-sufficient. If the temperature falls and the accumulation of ice increases, the wires impart more heat by increasing their temperature. These cables have UV inhibitors that serve as protection against the sun on a warm day. These are easy to install. With the help of proper adhesives, screws and nails, the instalment is quick and reliable. Sometimes, there may be a conductive heat plate to keep the ice away from the roof. The most popular form is aluminium de-icing plates since they can be used with several heating systems. The plates are supportive and prevent any substantial build-ups of ice that may damage the roof or the gutter system.
