Our self-regulating heating product is designed to be cut to length at the jobsite by an installer where it can then be end-capped with accessories (sold separately).
However, our constant wattage kits contain heating elements that cannot be shortened or altered in any way.
This National Electric Code (NEC) required protection for fixed outdoor deicing and snow-melting equipment may be accomplished by using circuit breakers equipped with ground-fault equipment protection (GFEP) of 30 mA. It is important to understand that this required equipment protection is not the same as a 5 mA GFCI used for personal protection.
Ā Cable length needed depends on the sizes and areas of the roof that need to be deiced (roof with gutter, downspouts, valleys, and/or dormers). Our best recommendation is for you to give us a call (1-800-875-5285) and we can help you identify what measurements will need to be taken. Alternatively, you can
measure the dimensions of the aforementioned areas and refer to the installation manual to get an idea of how much cable you'll need.Ā
Overlapping cable is not a problem at all for our self-regulating cable product as its able to regulate its heat output to prevent overheating and damaging the cable.Ā
However, for our constant wattage cable kits,Ā the cable cannot overlap itself or come in contact with itself or any other operating constant wattage heating cable at any time or it could overheat and fail.
Our self-regulating cable product does require the use of a control and/or a sensor to operate. WarmlyYours offers a variety of controls ranging from a basic manual control to our premium option that provides the ultimate in convenience and hands-off operation.
Our constant wattage cable kits do not require a thermostat/controller and can be connected to an outlet throughout an entire winter, during a single snow event, or whenever deicing is needed. An optional plug-in thermostat can be used if desired.
To do the test, uncoil the deicing cable completely so that it does not touch, cross-over or overlap on itself. Do not plug in the cable until it has been completely uncoiled. Plug the cable in, and in approximately 5 minutes, it should feel slightly warm to the touch. Then unplug the cable. Also, a resistance test can be done with a digital multimeter.
Our self-regulating cable product can be used with almost any commonly used roofing material, though you should always check with the roofing material's manufacturer guidelines to confirm.Ā
Our constant wattage kits can't be used on flat roofs, with wooden gutters or downspouts, or on roofs made of the following: slate, stone, metal, ceramic, wood, rubber, or composite (tar and gravel).Ā
NEVER use an extension cord. If you do not understand the electrical requirements needed regarding the electrical receptacle plug, contact your local electrical inspector or a licensed electrician.
The reason for this is due to safety and performance of the system. Extension cords are often not properly selected and will degrade, potentially leading to electrical shorts or other hazards such as fire. Roof de-icing cables are designed to be connected directly to a properly rated outlet, and the length and type of extension cords may not be rated for the same power load, leading to insufficient power supply, potential damage to the cables, and further safety risks including their ability to prevent ice dams on your roof.
Chemical roof melt has some serious downsides to consider. Not only are the chemicals potentially harmful for animals and plants, but they're difficult to apply accurately (while staying safe) which means you might not eliminate all of the ice dams. Roof melt's effectiveness, compared to roof melt cable, is more influenced by the ambient temperature and it is possible for the harsh chemicals to damage shingles or other roof components.
As the names imply, constant wattage cable uses fixed wattage output per linear foot and does not automatically adjust in response to temperature changes. Self-regulating cable is manufactured with a resistance matrix placed between its 2 buss wires that varies the ohms resistance per linear foot to automatically adjust in response to temperature changes. Learn more about this in our blog Self-Regulating vs. Constant Wattage Heating Cables.
WarmlyYours roof and gutter deicing self-regulating cable loses its power ramp-up ability at about 5-10 years, but it will still work at its rated wattage for years. Properly installed WarmlyYours roof and gutter constant wattage cable usually lasts well beyond its warranty period.