How To Do Roof Ice Melt Tapes

Heat cables also known as heat tape or roof ice cables are often the first things that come to mind for homeowners attempting to deal with ice dams.

How to do roof ice melt tapes.

Ask this old house general contractor tom silva explains the best ways to keep your roof and gutters free from those dreaded ice dams. First and foremost i t is very important to understand that heat cables do not prevent ice dams from forming or get rid of them altogether. Secure the roof cable with brackets affixed to each shingle where the roof cable bends. Unique heat tape cable systems for the roof valley and the roof flashing on metal roofs.

A metal roof is great for preventing snow build up because the sun heats up the metal and causes the snow to slide right off. Heat cable ul listed to prevent ice dams. Mount the heat sensor to. Clip in the cable along the same zigzag pattern as the shingle clips.

Take one end of the cable and begin at the corner of your roof. Typically roof heating cables or de icing heat tapes are installed along the lower roof eaves in a v pattern or zig zag pattern in the area where ice forms. See below for a shopp. Heat tape metal roofs.

Run zigzags to create 15 wide triangles running the cable from the overhang to the warm area of your roof. Clip the end of the cable in a loop and feed it through the downspout.