There is one area on our roof that because of the tree-shade, angle of the roof, and direction of the roof we always get an ice dam. We're talking 18" of ice that just builds upon itself all winter long until the melt. And that's when the problems start. There are many issues caused by ice dams, however, it's the back up of water that goes under the shingles and can cause inside leaks that is the most problematic. Shingles are meant for water to travel down the roof, not up (as is the case with an ice dam). So, if you don't want to climb-up on a slippery, pitched roof during the ice melt, then install this product and you won't worry next winter.
We purchased 2, 120' heat-wire strips for about 15' of roof coverage. One strip was for the roof and the second strand was for the gutter, downspout, and drain pipe. It was a little overkill on length, but we made our herringbone pattern pretty tight. You can make the pattern wider for better coverage. We also doubled up on the gutter (not because we had to, but because of the excess wire).
I certainly recommend running these wires through the gutter, downspout and out the drainpipe. At least, that's what I did and it worked perfectly this past winter.
FYI, to run a wire through a drain pipe, I used a crumpled up thin plastic grocery bag attached to a string and used a shop-vac to pull it through. Then attach the string to the wire and pull it through. Same thing for downspouts, however, I found it better to attach the string to 2-3 heavy bolts and let gravity pull the string down the pipe (as long as the downspout doesn't have any areas where it could get hung up and you have access to it at the ground).
I usually don't leave them on the entire winter here in Colorado. I plugged it into a remote controlled outlet (like you might use for your outside Christmas lights) and turn them on the evening before a snowstorm.
I would call this a two hammer job. Make sure you plan out where you are going to plug in. Likely you will need an outdoor extension cord and some cable-management (tie-downs, clamps, stuff like that). Depending on the pitch of your roof, it could be dicy. Go slow and be safe.
Incidentally, I had a spare run of the heat wire and decided to run it on a flat roof that seems to create a swimming pool because of the ice dam on the edges. It's not my best work, but in a pinch, it worked. Flat roofs don't have places to easily attach anything. And if an ice dam forms on the edge, it won't drain... Enter, heat-wire and a make-shift solution. Hey, it works!
Also, I've decided to leave them up for the summer. Probably going to wear them out faster, but they were a bit of a pain to put up, so I'm not going through that mess each spring and fall, thank you very much.
That's about all I can say about this product. Definitely worth it! Oh, one more thing, read and follow the directions. I found them to be helpful and thorough.
Easy Heat ADKS-1000 200-Foot Roof Snow De-Icing Kit
4.5 | 911 ratings
Price: 108
Last update: 12-17-2024
About this item
Snow de-icing cable prevents winter damage to roof, gutters, and downspouts
Provides uninterrupted path for melting water to flow off roof
Suitable for most roof and gutter configurations; available in several lengths
Easy to install; no maintenance required. Includes 6 packages of clips
Fixed resistance, pre-terminated. For residential applications
Provides uninterrupted path for melting water to flow off roof
Suitable for most roof and gutter configurations; available in several lengths
Easy to install; no maintenance required. Includes 6 packages of clips
Fixed resistance, pre-terminated. For residential applications
Product information
| Product Dimensions | 13 x 11 x 4 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 6.56 pounds |
| Department | Unisex-Adult |
| Manufacturer | Easy Heat |
| ASIN | B000FKF6HM |
| Item model number | ADKS-1000 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars
911
4.5 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #54,694 in Patio, Lawn & Garden (See Top 100 in Patio, Lawn & Garden) #27 in De-Icing Cables & Mats |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Top reviews from the United States
Lisa and RandyIf you've ever had an ice dam on your roof, you need this.
Lisa and Randy
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2020
We purchased 2, 120' heat-wire strips for about 15' of roof coverage. One strip was for the roof and the second strand was for the gutter, downspout, and drain pipe. It was a little overkill on length, but we made our herringbone pattern pretty tight. You can make the pattern wider for better coverage. We also doubled up on the gutter (not because we had to, but because of the excess wire).
I certainly recommend running these wires through the gutter, downspout and out the drainpipe. At least, that's what I did and it worked perfectly this past winter.
FYI, to run a wire through a drain pipe, I used a crumpled up thin plastic grocery bag attached to a string and used a shop-vac to pull it through. Then attach the string to the wire and pull it through. Same thing for downspouts, however, I found it better to attach the string to 2-3 heavy bolts and let gravity pull the string down the pipe (as long as the downspout doesn't have any areas where it could get hung up and you have access to it at the ground).
I usually don't leave them on the entire winter here in Colorado. I plugged it into a remote controlled outlet (like you might use for your outside Christmas lights) and turn them on the evening before a snowstorm.
I would call this a two hammer job. Make sure you plan out where you are going to plug in. Likely you will need an outdoor extension cord and some cable-management (tie-downs, clamps, stuff like that). Depending on the pitch of your roof, it could be dicy. Go slow and be safe.
Incidentally, I had a spare run of the heat wire and decided to run it on a flat roof that seems to create a swimming pool because of the ice dam on the edges. It's not my best work, but in a pinch, it worked. Flat roofs don't have places to easily attach anything. And if an ice dam forms on the edge, it won't drain... Enter, heat-wire and a make-shift solution. Hey, it works!
Also, I've decided to leave them up for the summer. Probably going to wear them out faster, but they were a bit of a pain to put up, so I'm not going through that mess each spring and fall, thank you very much.
That's about all I can say about this product. Definitely worth it! Oh, one more thing, read and follow the directions. I found them to be helpful and thorough.
Images in this review
Ted in CT