Posts Tagged ‘ice dam heat cable’
Tuesday, November 15th, 2016
The Fundamental Underlying Cause of Most Ice Dams
We have spent a lot of time discussing the finer points about ice dams over the years. This Case Study is about pulling the focus back to the most global understanding of why ice dams happen.
What Causes Ice Dams
There are over a dozen factors that contribute to the formation of ice dams, all of which have been discussed in previous Case Studies. Fundamentally, only one condition MUST be met in order for ice dams to form: A temperature differential from one area of a roof assembly to another area, with the upper area being above 32° and the lower area being below 32°. See below.
How it Works
This diagram demonstrates the basic concept behind ice dam formation. Snow melts in the area above 32°, water runs down to the area below 32° and refreezes. This cycle continues until an accumulation of ice forms that is large enough to block water from flowing naturally off the roof. The resulting ‘ice dam’ forces water to back up under the roofing materials and into the structure. There are many intersecting variables that cause the phenomenon described here. See below.
List of 7 Contributing Factors to Ice Dam Formation
- A period of outdoor temperatures ranging between 0°-10° at night followed by daytime temperatures between 10°-20°.
- Repeated snow falls that keep the roof loaded with new snow resulting in at least 6″ of coverage at all times.
- Thermal inefficiencies in the home that allow warmth to heat up the roof deck from the underside.
- Homeowner lifestyle that results in excessively heated spaces (More heat equals more roof snow melting).
- Roof pitch: Flatter roof pitches tend to be more affected by problematic ice dams.
- Eave depth: Smaller eaves tend to be more affected by problematic ice dams than deeper eaves.
- Age and construction style of home: Older homes tend to be more affected than newer homes.
To read more Case Studies click here.
Tags: about ice dams, best ice dam removal in minneapolis, best rated ice dam removal contractor, highest rated ice dam removal company in minneapolis, how do I know I have ice dams, how to tell if an ice dam is a problem, ice and snow removal, ice dam heat cable, ice dam prevention, Ice dam removal, ice dam removal jerks, twin cities ice dam remover
Posted in Ice Dams, Misc., Ice Dams: General Info | Comments Off on What Causes Ice Dams
Friday, May 20th, 2016
Where Do Ice Dams Normally Happen on Homes? A List of the Most Common Ice Dam Locations
Where ice dams happen…and don’t happen:
- Ice dams seldom occur over unheated areas such as garages and porches (A).
- The valley areas of dormers frequently get ice dams (B).
- Ice dams often occur both below and above skylights. Ice dams above skylights are hard to see from the ground, making them some of the sneakiest to discover (C).
- Any openings through the roof – such as pipes and vents – are a good place for small ice dams for form (D).
- Valleys are very common areas for ice dam formation. It is important to never use hammers or chisels near valleys as the difference between a thorough ice removal job and valley damage is fractions of an inch (E).
- On roofs with a low pitch (angle) even a 1-2″ ice dam can cause significant leaking and interior damage (F).
- The eaves edge is the most common place to see ice dams. 80% of the dams we remove are found here (G).
- Interior rooms with vaulted ceilings are frequently associated with large ice dams. Bathrooms are often the worst. If you had recessed lighting to a vaulted ceiling, you are much more likely to have ice dams (H).
- Ice dams occasionally form around chimneys and furnace flues. Any place heat escapes through the roof line. Ice dams in these locations can be very, very small and still cause leaking (I).
To read more Case Studies click here.
Tags: about ice dams, best ice dam removal in minneapolis, best rated ice dam removal contractor, highest rated ice dam removal company in minneapolis, how do I know I have ice dams, ice dam expert, ice dam heat cable, ice dam removal jerks, identifying an ice dam, is my ice dam bad, minneapolis ice dam removal, twin cities ice dam remover
Posted in Ice Dam Prevention, Ice Dam Removal, Ice Dams, Misc., Ice Dams: General Info | Comments Off on Common Ice Dam Locations on a Home
Monday, October 5th, 2015
Roof deicing cable for ice dam prevention by the Ice Dam Company
Over the years we have heard people call heat cable many things.
Heat Coils for ice dam prevention:
Heat coils most likely get their name from the fact that the material itself, that is the heat cable, comes in coils and when installed by a hack is sometimes left in coils on the roof. Heat coils for ice dam prevention are of course the same thing as heat cables.
Roof deicing cables for ice dam prevention:
Roof deicing cables get their name from their primary purpose, to deice roofs. The name is a bit of a misnomer, however, because technically, roof deicing cables do not deice the entire roof, or even the majority of it. Ice dam deicing cables only melt channels through a small percentage of the ice dam to enable the passage of water through the ice dam so water is not able to back up behind the ice dam, into the roof material and into the home. Roof deicing cable is commonly used in the control of ice dams. Notice that there is a big distinction between preventing ice dams and controlling ice dams. Roof deicing wire and roof deicing cable is not meant to prevent ice dams so much as it is meant to control the affects of ice dams on roofs.
Gutter heat cables, Gutter heat tape and Gutter deicing cable:
Gutter heat tape also known as gutter heat wire, is used in the same fashion as heat cable, heat tape and roof deicing cable. It’s primary purpose is to melt ice, or more specifically, to prevent the original formation of ice in the gutter. As discussed in the here general section, gutters in fact have nothing to do with either the creation or severity of ice dams. This isn’t to say that using gutter heat tape or gutter heat wire is a bad idea. Having hundreds of pounds of ice form in your gutter system causes problems of its’ own, most notably that the gutters can be ripped off the house by the weight of the ice itself. Gutter heating coils is yet another variation of this category of names.
Gutter ice melting cable for ice dam prevention by The Ice Dam Company
Roof Heat Wire and Roof Heat Coils
As with other names, roof heat wire gets its’ name from the perception of its’ intended function. It’s just another way of saying heat cable or heat tape. Roof heat wire is wire on the roof that carries heat with the purpose of controlling ice dams or the damage created by ice formations on a roof.
Tags: gutter deicing wire, gutter heat coils, gutter heat wire, gutter heating cables, Heat cable, heat coils, heat tape for ice dams, heat wire for roof, heating coils for roof, ice dam heat cable, ice dam heat coil, Ice dam heat tape, ice dam prevention coils, ice dam prevention heat cable, roof deicing cable, roof deicing coils, roof deicing tape, roof deicing wire
Posted in Ice Dam Prevention, Ice Dams, Misc. | Comments Off on The Many Names of Ice Dam Heat Cable
Friday, September 18th, 2015
CLICK HERE TO BUY ROOF CLIPS FOR SLATE ROOF HEAT CABLE INSTALLATION
We sell a huge amount of heat cable clips for ice dam heat cables and roof deicing cables. Most of the roof deicing heat cable clips we sell relate to new ice dam prevention heat cables. Many of the clips we sell, however, relate to people needing replacement ice then heat cable clips. For example, in the case of a reroofing project, the roofer often removes the existing ice dam deicing cable system and neglects to keep the clips. A bit of a bummer, but they are easy enough to replace.
One of the less common roof deicing cable clip is made for slate roof applications. Slate roof ice dam cable clips are quite different than standard heat cable installation clips. Here is a photo of the two side-by-side: 
Slate roof heat cable clips, also known as slate roof ice dam cable brackets, are far more expensive than standard ice dam heat cable clips. Check for current pricing in our store. Right now our prices for ice dam heat cable clips are as follows: $40 for a box of 25 standard heat cable clips. Slate roof deicing cable clips cost $20 per piece.
Installing heat cables on a slate roof requires special expertise and special accessories. Standard roof deicing projects are often far more affordable based on the clip cost alone.
Ice Dam Heat Cable Clips for Slate in use on a slate roof
Tags: heat cable roof clips, ice dam heat cable, slate roof
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