Monthly Archives: January 2015

Articles

Winter Weather Blamed for Toppling Bricks in Philadelphia

In January of 2015, bricks from a downtown Philadelphia building tumbled onto a neighboring roof and into the Lululemon Athletica clothing store, injuring three women. According to Philadelphia inspectors, the repeating process of water freezing and thawing likely weakened the structure, causing its collapse.

The “freeze-thaw” process is also what leads to ice dams, the culprit behind costly roof and water damage in homes and businesses throughout the country.

Skyscrapers in downtown Philadelphia
Skyscrapers in downtown Philadelphia.

While falling snow and ice presents a significant safety threat to pedestrians in cities like Philadelphia, ice dams pose the greatest threat to homeowners. As heat rises from the home, it can escape into the attic and warm the roof, causing water to trickle down near the roof’s edge. But the roof eaves are colder, causing the water to refreeze. As this process is repeated, water can build up behind the ice where it can seep into tiny cracks of the roof. Each night, as the water refreezes, it expands, paving the way for more water to seep into the cracks and eventually into the home. The resulting water damage within walls and ceilings can be expensive to repair.

Warmzone roof de-icing and gutter trace systems offer one of the best roof heating solutions available for preventing hazardous ice dams and heavy icicles from forming on roofs. The roof heating systems are easy to customize and install. Once installed the roof de-icing and gutter heating systems operate only when conditions warrant, keeping heavy ice from damaging roof gutters and preventing ice dams from forming along roof edges.

In addition to Warmzone’s large variety of industry leading roof de-icing systems, Warmzone radiant heat experts work closely with customers to determine the best and most affordable option for each roof.

Philadelphia during a snowstorm
Downtown Philadelphia during a winter snowstorm.

The most popular roof heating system features an advanced polymer heating element (RoofHeat STEP) that can be installed directly under roof shingles. This low-voltage system has proven to be a favorite roof heating solution among professional installers and homeowners throughout the Philadelphia area. Heat trace cable can also be installed to heat gutters and downspouts, or the systems can be combined to produce optimum results.

Warmzone professionals are experts when it comes to roof heating, and the customer service is second to none. In addition to providing complete system designs (AutoCAD), installers have access to free installation training as well as personal installation support. If installers encounter any issues or have any questions during the process, he/she can speak with one of the dedicated installation support staff to resolve the issue.

To learn more about Warmzone’s roof heating options, call 888.488.9276. Many home and business owners in Philadelphia are already enjoying the benefits of a Warmzone roof de-icing system. Call a Warmzone consultant to learn more – with no obligation or sales pressure. Or visit Warmzone online. As an industry leader, Warmzone offers one of the most informative radiant heating websites available. Visit warmzone.com and learn more about radiant heating systems and why some systems (and services) are better than others when it comes to heating specific projects.

Radiant Heat News

All-Purpose Outdoor Heating Blankets

Rely on Heating Blankets for All Your Outdoor Needs

They say few things in life are certain. Most days you wake up and have a plan for how you think your day will go and pretty soon (as soon as you walk out the door usually) life hits you smack in the face and rearranges your day entirely. What you expected to happen doesn’t happen at all. So it’s hard to rely on anything for sure. The good thing about an all-purpose heating blanket is that in all ways you can always count on them. All your outdoor projects are made better because of the reliability of an easy-to-use outdoor heating blanket.

PowerBlanket outdoor heating blankets are versatile and durable insulated mats that thaw the ground, heat barrels, buckets of liquid, car batteries and engines, cure concrete, and even provide warmth for pets. PowerBlankets, as well as Warmtrax portable heating mats, are often used as portable snow melting solutions. Both types of heating mats are built for rugged outdoor use and are simple to use.

In many ways it is the ideal outdoor heating tool because it wears so many different hats. And each new hat an outdoor heating blanket wears it does well at the task at hand. Relying on a heating mat is one certain thing in your day. As long as you provide your weatherproof heating blanket with the proper electricity (120 volts), you are assured that your outdoor heating in all ways is heated always. Our all-purpose heating blanket is portable as well, so you can roll it up, smash it into a back seat and move it to the location you desire heat to happen. Simple as that, all ways, always.

HOTNEWS

Why Warmzone’s Self-Regulating Heat Cable is a Cut Above the Competition

Banish Snow and Ice from your Roof and Gutters, and Protect Pipes with the Industry’s Top Self-Regulating Heat Trace Cable

With sub-zero temperatures upon us, the last thing most of us want to do is fool around with manual outdoor snow and ice removal. As the temperatures maintain their frosty grip on much of the country, installing a radiant heat solution for your roof, gutters and pipes is a wise, potentially cost-savings move. Featuring a superior outer jacket and carbon core, making installation in frigid conditions possible, Warmzone self-regulating cable truly is the best choice.

What makes Warmzone’s self-regulating cable unique? The outer jacket of other leading brands of heat cable tends to “bubble” or separate from the cable core when the cable is manipulated for turns. These irregularities create stress points on the cable that allow water to reach the core, causing erratic heating and eventual cable failure. To better illustrate this point, consider the photos shown. At a bend radius of about 2 inches, the outer jacket of other popular heating cables bubbles and pulls away from the core, creating a visible stress point prone to water seepage and eventual failure.

Comparing heat trace cable bending radius

At a bend radius of 1½ inches, the outer jacket of the Warmzone cable is smooth, showing no signs of bubbling. The durable outer jacket is more flexible, so it minimizes “puckering”, even at a tight bend radius. These performance differences are extremely important in applications where tight cable manipulation is critical, including gutters, roofs and pipe tracing.

Warmzone self-regulating heat cable can also be installed at much lower temperatures than most, and that’s critical if you’re in a region prone to colder conditions and in need of a solution right now. That’s because the minimum installation temperature for most self-regulating heat cables is 32 – 40°F. At temperatures lower than this, the carbon becomes brittle and prone to breaking when bent or manipulated; and the outer jacket of most competitive cables also tends to stiffen, making it difficult to safely install in cold weather.

Warmzone self-regulating heat trace cable with durable outer jacket

The high quality carbon center of Warmzone’s self-regulating radiant heating cable is much more resilient, and can withstand installation temperatures as low as 0°F, making them a safe bet for installation in some rather frosty conditions. Factor in the flexibility of the outer jacket in the same weather and you can expect easier installation and more reliable performance.

If you’ve decided on Warmzone radiant heating cable, perhaps the hardest sell is finding the right installation team for the job on short notice. Warmzone can help with that too. They’ve forged deep relationships with wholesalers and general contractors across the country to deliver the most advanced, reliable snow melting solutions around, and they’re a great resource for installation support. Just give them a call at 888.488.9276 and discover how Warmzone can keep ice off the roof, out of the gutter and away from your pipes.

Warmzone Design and Support Services

Warmzone Customer Service is Second to None

If you’re one of many savvy business owners intent on growing your business with radiant heat, Warmzone’s design services are an invaluable resource. Each and every radiant heat solution you purchase from Warmzone comes with a professional consultation, including an AutoCAD system design, so you’ll know the exact power requirements and performance expectations for your project prior to installation. These services are second to none in the industry, and are included with your purchase.

Overwhelmed by the prospect of tackling something new? Warmzone’s design team can take a lot of the work and headache out of the equation for you so you can competently recommend and deliver the right radiant heat solution for your customers. Our experts free you up to do what you do best, so there’s no need to feel overwhelmed by the prospects of installing a radiant heat system when you work with Warmzone. If you can send us a rough drawing of the project on a piece of paper or describe it over the phone, Warmzone will take care of the details from there. We’ll specify the correct materials, load calculations, breaker sizes, the number of breakers you’ll need, etc. So again, don’t be intimidated by installing radiant heat. Warmzone will take care of the details as well as provide personal installation support. When you partner with Warmzone to install radiant heat, you’re never alone. And our experts are the best in the business.

Example of Warmzone radiant heat system AutoCAD

Warmzone has the breadth and depth of products and design services you’ll need to complete your next project quickly, efficiently and within budget, without compromising quality. And you won’t have to go it alone. Warmzone stays with you throughout the installation process to make sure the system is installed correctly and performing as advertised. Your dedicated account manager will follow your project from start to finish to your complete satisfaction.

In addition to personal installation support, you also have access to a library of installation resources available at warmzone.com. Warmzone maintains a vast collection of documentation, photos and illustrations that can assist you during your installation or selection process.

Deep industry knowledge and design experience informs every radiant heat design Warmzone renders for their customers. Over the years, their design team has developed relationships with experts in cutting edge radiant heat technology, along with plenty of insights they enthusiastically pass on to installers and contractors selecting and installing radiant heat for their customers.

Warmzone also offers product and installation training. including certifications provided upon completion of training. If you’re in the area, you can also take advantage of in house training with Warmzone professionals.

Whether you’re new to radiant heat technology, or have a specific project you need help with, give Warmzone a call at 888.488.9276. The call is free, the quote is free, and the advice, invaluable!