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Best Roof Heating Systems

Protecting Your Roof and Gutters

With the end of winter and spring approaching many homeowners
may be finding that the harsh winter weather has caused damage to their roof and gutters. Many people don’t give their roofs and gutters a second thought until there is a problem.

Snow and ice can cause damage to roofs and gutters in many different ways. Shingles can come loose due to the contractions and expansion with the change in temperature. Ice dams are the most common problems associated with winter roof damage. A ridge of ice forms at the edge or valley of a roof and prevents the melting snow behind it from draining. The water backs up behind the dam where it freezes and melts again. Eventually water seeps through a weak part of the roof, causing damage to ceilings, walls, and floors, eventually resulting in mold and mildew growth.

Heated roof edges
Heating the roof edges is an economical and efficient way to eliminate dangerous, and potentially costly, ice dams from forming as well as heavy ice and icicles that can damage gutters.

Many people don’t realize that they can do something to prevent the damage that winter weather causes to roofs and gutters. Roof heating systems are becoming an affordable and preferred option for many homeowners. A variety of roof deicing systems are on the market today.

Thin RoofHeat STEP low-voltage heating elements can be discreetly installed under the shingles and help to protect your home during the harsh winter months. This system can also be installed to heat metal roofs. Homeowners also have options to protect gutters from breaking due to ice, and also the buildup of icicles, which can be dangerous to homeowners and their families. Gutter trace systems can be installed to prevent structural damage from heavy snow and ice to gutters and downspouts. When it comes to protecting your home, Warmzone offers many roof heating options, each of which can be customized to best meet your needs.

The best time to take preventive measures to guard against future roof damage is in the early spring. With the threat of heavy snow behind, most people are not thinking of what they can do to make next winter easier. This means savvy homeowners can find better deals on installation and pricing in the spring. When shopping for the best roof deicing system homeowners should take into account the following things.

  • Ease of installation. You want a system that can be nailed or stapled though and installed and cut to fit onsite, facilitating the ease of installation. Such a system can be significantly less expensive.
  • Does the system require maintenance? Electric roof deicing systems are preferable because they are virtually maintenance free, decreasing the cost of yearly up-keep. With an electric deicing system, there is no need for yearly checkups or repair of leaky pipes that may be associated with some hydraulic heating systems.
  • Is it a trusted product with a reliable track record? Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the system and the heating element. Find out what other applications it has been used for. Why is it the best system for you?
  • Is the roof heating or gutter trace system fully automated? How efficient is it? Look for a system without a bulky housing system. You also want to find a deicing system that is fully automated which will make it more effective in that the energy goes directly to snow melting. (Learn how roof deicing systems work.) This will in turn make the cost of operation per hour less. Probably the most important factor to an efficient deicing system is that it is fully automated. This should be on the top of your list of must-haves from a deicing system. A fully automated system can detect the temperature and moisture in the air, and when conditions warrant, it triggers the control unit. The controller then powers up the heating elements warming your roof and gutters just before the snow storm and then shutting off afterward the storm has passed, resulting in maximum performance.

Installing a roof deicing system is an excellent way to prevent damage to your roof and gutters from winter weather. As long as you know what to look for, it is a safe, affordable way to protect and raise the value of your home.

How to Install a Roof Deicing Gutter Trace System

HOTNEWS

The Future of Roof Deicing

Clear Roof Valleys and Edges faster with a RoofHeat STEP Roof Deicing System

After record snowfalls this year, a spring assessment of your roof may lead you to consider a radiant roof heating solution, particularly for your roof valleys and edges. Heating these trouble spots is a great way to prevent damage as a result of ice dams and seepage. With a razor thin element, superior heating capability and inherent flexibility, a low-voltage RoofHeat STEP roof deicing system is the ideal option for heating roof valleys and edges.

Warmzone roof deicing systems can eliminate costly ice dams, the number one source of roof damage. Because the eaves and roof edges do not have any heat warming the roof from below, they’re much colder and prone to ice buildup from snow melting higher on the roof. As snow up higher on the roof melts, the water freezes when it reaches the colder eaves, creating an ice dam that forces water to back up behind it. With nowhere to go, the water seeps through roof decking and refreezes again at night, expanding small cracks where the water eventually works its way down onto ceilings and walls, resulting in costly water damage and mold.

An Industry Leading Solution

The RoofHeat STEP roof deicing system is fast becoming the roof heating system of choice among professional roofers. Unlike other radiant heating options, the heating element used for this system is not a cable, but rather a thin polymer that can be nailed, stapled and cut on site, so it’s easy to work with and install. The self-regulating semi-conductive polymer heating element is polypropylene fused during fabrication to achieve water proofing and protection from alkaline or salt damage, and can be mounted under the shingles for discreet heating of roof valleys and edges.

Low-voltage roof deicing system being installed

Installing a roof deicing solution now can preserve and protect a new roof installation from snow and ice buildup for years to come. Besides saving you big bucks in the “improve, repair and replace” department, a RoofHeat STEP roof deicing system can save you the time and effort of having to manually remove snow and ice.

These fully automated systems feature an activation device/snow sensor that detects precipitation and temperature. When conditions warrant, the sensor signals the controller when then sends power to the heating element to heat your roof.

A RoofHeat STEP roof deicing system can keep roof valleys and edges clear and dry before, during and after a major snow event. The system also consists of a transformer that steps down high voltage to low voltage while controlling a specific section of the roof deicing system. During system operation, the transformers monitor power and output to the heating element to ensure safe, accurate and efficient performance.

To find out more about this industry-leading roof deicing system, call 888.488.9276 and speak to a Warmzone professional today.

Premier RoofHeat Gutter Trace Systems

Warmzone Self-regulating Heat Cable is the Ideal Solution for Heating Gutters and Downspouts
Finally spring has arrived, along with the drip, drip, drip of melting snow from the roof tops onto the pavement below. As meteorologists predict several more years of extreme winter weather, now may be the time to add a RoofHeat radiant gutter trace system to your list of home improvement projects this spring.

Heavy snow and ice can damage roof gutters and downspouts, and ice dams often result in costly roof and water damage. Keeping gutters and downspouts clear of ice helps to facilitate runoff which dramatically reduces the risks to your home.

Self-regulating heat cable construction

When gutters and downspouts are blocked, and there is nowhere for the precipitation above to go, melted snow can pool up on your roof or run over the ice and drips down onto the ground. As this ice builds up along your roof edges during winter months, it can melt and refreeze several times, leading to roof damage and water seepage inside your home. Now for some good news—a Warmzone gutter melt system is a truly efficient, affordable home improvement project that can keep your gutters and downspouts free and clear from ice and snow buildup every winter.

The backbone of the system is Warmzone’s durable self-regulating roof deicing cable, one of the most recommended roof heating solutions available for roofs, gutters and drain pipes. (See what separates Warmzone’s self-regulating heat cable from the competition. Self-regulating RoofHeat cable is constructed to be safe, durable and extremely efficient. This energy-wise cable has an irradiated conductive core that increases the heat output as the outside temperature falls, and decreases heat output as the temperature rises. With a rugged, durable outer construction, the heat cable can withstand harsh conditions for continuous use during the winter months.

Roof in need of a roof deicing and gutter melt system.RoofHeat deicing cable is part of a fully-automated gutter trace and roof deicing system designed to keep roof gutters and trouble spots clear of snow and ice buildup. A self-regulating heat cable system is controlled by automatic sensors capable of detecting when snow is on the way. Once detected, the sensor signals the control unit, activating the snowmelt system only when necessary to keep gutters and downspouts clear of ice and snow. The system is fully automated so there’s no switches to flip the system on or off, and operates only when you need it.

These systems are customizable and can accommodate virtually any size, type and construction of your roof. And self-regulating roof deicing cable can also be combined with other recommended Warmzone systems such as the RoofHeat STEP deicing system to create an optimal solution for you. For more information on installing a RoofHeat radiant gutter trace and deicing system to protect your roof next winter, call a Warmzone pro at 888.488.9276.