How Long To Leave Heated Wires On Roof Plugged In

The heat tape that most homeowners use comes in stock lengths like extension cords that run from a few feet long to almost 100 feet.

How long to leave heated wires on roof plugged in.

Homeowners may think that zig zag cables on the roof and heated gutters are effective at preventing ice dams however this is not the case. Common questions about heating cable and heating tape. Finally check the rating for the cable in extremely low temperatures. When the cables are working should they be warm to the touch.

Everyone has their own idea about how to use the cables. You plug one end of the tape into an outlet and spiral wrap. Heat cables and radiant panel roof ice melt systems should generally be energized between 10 and 34 degrees. You can then leave the cables powered on until the snow has melted from the roof.

That equals to 2 3kwh per hour or almost 56kwh per day of continuous operation. When working properly the heat cables are supposed to be warm not hot. Additionally all heat cables should be waterproof. Warmed by heat rising up from below accumulated snow on the roof begins to melt.

What exactly it is how to use it what it s useful for and so on. An inexpensive heat cable that doesn t offer water protection is not safe to use. We get quite a few questions about heating cable here at o e m. With us average electric price of 0 13 kwh you will be spending 7 25 per day if your system is running full 24 hours.

Each application is different and is affected by the pitch of the roof leakage of hot air into attic outside temps thickness of snow ice. The cables are expensive to run so use needs to be frugal. We ve put together this page and the articles that are linked here to try to answer any questions you might have so you can feel confident that you re getting the right cable and using it properly. Some heat cables may not be safe to use with certain materials so you need to know the materials used in your roof gutters and downspouts.

These are the temps at which ice dams form and the heat cables will work best of course best is a relative term in connection with hardware store heat cables. A typical 120 foot long roof edge with 6 12 overhangs and no gutters deicing will need about 291 feet of cable. Once the temperatures rise above freezing you can go ahead and unplug the cables. They should not be left on 24 hours a day and usually aren t used above like 40 weather.