Typical gutter downspouts on residential homes are either 2″ x 3″ or 3″ x 4″. It’s acceptable to install a single or a double run of Heat Tape PRO™ self-regulating heat cable in the standard downspout (See 1 in drawing). Check out our installation tips for open-faced commercial downspouts here. During installation, be sure not to drag the heat cable over sharp screw points or around sharp sheet metal edges, like near downspout openings. This is a super common problem with people who have never installed heat cable before. It’s a good idea to use CableGuard™ to protect your cable system against common damage at this location (See 2 in drawing). CableGuard™ is a flexible PVC product designed to be quickly pushed onto the heat cable in areas where damage is most common. Most professional installers buy CableGuard™ for downspout hanger applications because it is cheaper and easier to work with.
Heat Tape PRO™ heat cable can be installed inside ground drains to keep water flowing throughout the winter. It is safe to use inside open drain pipes of any material including PVC, ABS, Copper and Steel.
Note, we show a ThermaCord™ Automatic Heat Cable Controller, which turns the heat cable on and off according to outdoor temperatures. This heat cable control device turns the cable on at around 37º and off at 50º. Heat Tape Pro heat cable can also be used in underground drains as shown below.
Plug the ThermaCord™ Automatic Heat Cable Controller into any outdoor outlet to turn heat cable on and off with changes in temperature.
Most of our professional installers have moved away from old-school, metal downspout hangers and switched to CableGuard™, which protects expensive heat cable systems from damage against sharp edges and points. Zip screws kill heat cable!
CableGuard™ seen here at the opening of a downspout.
Heat cable usually dies due to damage to the jacketing, which sometime occurs where cable comes into contact with sharp edges. CableGuard™ can be used to protect heat cable where anything threatens the integrity of the cable jacketing.
Heat tape is often damaged where it exits downspouts and drains. CableGuard™ can be used to protect heat cable at these locations.
