Living in the Lake Tahoe area has its perks, but heavy mountain snow and freezing weather can take a toll on roofs. Heavy ice can build up in gutters and cause damage, as well as pose a hazard to pedestrians below. While most residential roofs are built to withstand significant weight loads, it’s not the weight of the snow that poses the greatest threat. The most common and costly culprit is the ice dam.
Ice dams build up at the roof eaves and prevent runoff from reaching the gutters. A ridge of ice forms along the roof eave, causing water to pool up behind it. The sitting water can seep into the tiniest cracks in the shingles and roof. When it refreezes at night, the ice expands, increasing the size of cracks and imperfections in the roof. Over time, this can threaten the integrity of the roof. The key is to prevent instances of any standing water occuring on your roof. Preventing ice dams from forming helps to protect the integrity of the roof by allowing the runoff to reach the valleys and gutters.
The surest way to prevent ice dams is to install Warmzone’s low-voltage roof heating system. The RoofHeat STEP® de-icing system features a thin, self-regulating polymer heating panel that can be installed discreetly under the shingles. The heating element is polypropylene fused during fabrication to achieve water proofing, and protect it from alkaline or salt damage. This low-voltage system can also be safely installed under metal roofs. Low-voltage systems are easy to customize and install. The flexible element can be nailed and stapled through, facilitating the installation process. Because the RoofHeat STEP system is self-regulating, the electrical resistance increases when the ambient temperature rises, which results in a decrease of electricity consumption. The self-regulating attribute helps to ensure energy-efficient operation, and prevents the element from overheating. The low-voltage roof heating systems are also fully automated and maintenance free.
The RoofHeat STEP de-icing system is an efficient system that keeps the roof eaves clear of snow and ice. But another common — and affordable — roof de-icing solution is to “serpentine” self-regulating heat cable along the roof eaves. This provides channels for the runoff so pools of water aren’t resting on your roof behind ridges of ice along the eaves.
The heat trace cable’s advanced design results in effective, energy-efficient operation. The cable features an irradiated conductive core that increases its heat output as the temperature falls, and decreases its output when the temperature rises (hence “self-regulating”). The cable features a rugged, durable construction that is capable of withstanding harsh winter environments. In addition to being very affordable, self-regulating heat trace systems are also easy to customize and install. The cable can be run along roof eaves to provide channels for runoff, as well as in gutters and downspouts. Many homeowners also complement their low-voltage roof heating systems with self-regulating heat cable.
Self-regulating cable comes with a 100 percent tinned copper braid, fluoropolymer outer jacket and a continuous metal ground band. The cable is UL recognized under the Appliance Wire Classification (file E 76498) and meets the requirements of Section 426 of the National Electric Code (NEC). This ensures durability, reliability and extremely effective performance. And the roof heating systems are fully automated and virtually maintenance free.
To learn about the many roof heating options that are available, call and speak with a roof heating expert today. We will customize your roof heating system to best meet your snow melting and budget needs. Call 888.488.9276 and start enjoying the benefits of a roof de-icing system today.
888-488-9276
info@warmzone.com
