Heating cables are recommended for homes where winter climates are frigid and ice formation is common. Ice on the roof can cause damage due to the added weight on the roof and cause ice dams to form. Roof ice melt systems help prevent ice dams from building on your roof.
Water leaking into the roof because the ice dam blocks water from escaping is common. Ice dams can also lead to:
- Mold
- Mildew
- Rot
- Poor air quality
However, heat cables can lead to potential problems and headaches for home owners, such as:
1. Often Left Hanging Over the Edge of the Roof
Heating cables are secured to the roof so that they’re not hanging over the side, but rough winters can cause securing measures to loosen. Improper cable installation can also cause wires to become unsecured.
When spring time comes, these wires may hang over the edge of the roof, making the home look untidy or unkempt.
2. Continual Upkeep and Maintenance
Periodic checking of the cables is required to ensure that they’re still in proper operating form and that they’re not overheating. This will add further expenses to the upkeep of your home and roof.
A yearly maintenance check is recommended so that your roof stays ice-dam-free.
3. Increased Electricity Usage
Heating cables require electricity to function properly. When a strong winter storm comes along, the cables will be operating at all times to keep the ice off of your roof. If left running all winter long, you’ll notice a significant increase in your electricity bills.
There can also be overheating and unnecessary power usage issues that result in a great draw of electricity, further causing high electricity bills.
High electric bills are offset by the ability to keep your roof leak-free and undamaged for longer. It’s a small price to pay in comparison to repairing or installing a new roof.
4. Lower Curb Appeal
Your home’s curb appeal will drop as a result of heating cables. While they’re installed on the roof, they do stand out from your shingles and will be visibly noticeable by anyone that walks by. If you’re trying to sell your home, this could be an issue.
Roof Melt System Options from HotEdge
HotEdge is a leader in innovative, safe & energy efficient ice dam prevention systems. To see how our systems far out-perform any other system on the marketing contact us here or call (800) 411-3296.
