Learning About Heat Tape
Using Heat Tape in Gutters
Overview
Yes! Heat Tape Pro can be used inside Gutters & Downspouts.
Unlike many other heat cables, Heat Tape Pro™ can be used in gutters of all types including plastic, aluminum, copper, galvanized steel, membranes and more. Our cable can can also overlap itself and can come in contact with leaves and debris without posing a fire hazard.
Maintaining good water flow through your gutter system around the year is important and heat cable is the perfect answer for homes in cold climates. That said, a common misconception is that gutters are the main source of ice dam build-up. This is simply incorrect. Ice build up in gutters is a separate and serious problem that is actually unrelated to ice accumulations on your roof so it’s important to understand if you have one or both problems before installing your heat cable system. We explain why, below –and what you need to do.
Are Gutters the Main Source for Ice Dams?
No, not really.
When you’re on the ground and looking up at icicles hanging from your gutter, it’s easy to assume that the gutter itself plays a key role in the formation of ice dams. The main source of ice dam formation, however, occurs higher up your roof.
Ice dams are the result of three intersecting variables: Warm Air (Coming from inside your home), Cold Air (from outside), and Precipitation (generally in the form of snow).
Ice Dam Origin Basics
Ice Dams Occur When No Gutter is Present
Again, it’s important to understand that ice dams can (and often do) form regardless of the presence of gutters. Ice-filled gutters are a problem in and of themselves, but they are not the cause of ice dams.
How do I use Heat Tape Pro in gutters?
Gutters are a very important part of your roof system. Their purpose is to transport water off the surface of your roof and away from your home. No matter what your challenge is (ice dams on the roof or ice-clogged gutters) it’s important to keep a free-flowing pathway for water to follow, and that’s exactly what the Heat Tape Pro™ system is designed to do.
What Products Should Be used with Heat Tape Pro when installing in Gutters?
Radiant Solutions Company has designed a few products specifically for installing our heat tape inside gutters.
