Heat tape is a protected electrical cord that when used in gutters and pipes can stop them from freezing also known as gutter heat cables or gutter heaters heat tape helps to prevent ice dams from forming.
Images of gutter heat tape.
Gutter heaters don t prevent ice dams.
The type of heat tape used on roofs and gutters to prevent ice buildup is properly called heat cable.
Temperatures drop below freezing and the snow melt refreezes causing an ice dam.
Unlike constant wattage cables that produce the same amount of heat regardless of the outside temperature neverfreeze self regulating cables increase.
Raychem nvent 403503 000 6 watts foot wintergard wet self regulating heating cable 240 volt pipe or roof gutter de icing includes 100 feet of cable 2 each h900 power end seal kits 1 each h910 splice tee kit 1 each h903 application tape.
The term heat tape refers to another product an insulated electrical wire applied to water pipes to keep them from freezing and bursting.
Heat tape for gutters or gutter heaters are specifically designed to prevent ice dams that damage your house.
As you can see ice dams are an internal heat loss.
Neverfreeze self regulating heat cable is specially designed for roof gutter and downspout deicing to prevent ice dams from forming on your roof and causing expensive structural water damage.
Heating cable looks more like standard two conductor house wiring cable type nm or romex and is not nearly as flexible as heat tape most varieties are about as flexible as a garden hose the stiffness is related to one of the main differences between them and heat tapes.
How to melt ice and snow on your eaves an.
Heating cables are enclosed in a housing that protects the heating elements and means you can use the.
Snow begins to melt from solar heat and heat loss from your home melted snow runs down to the surface of the roof settling along overhands and gutter lines.
Heat cable is a similar product but it is designed for installation on the edge of your home s roof near the eaves.
If you live in a warmer climate like san antonio gutter heat tape is an easy solution to frozen gutters that can also increase the gutters lifespan.