How a Gutter Heater Can Keep Your Gutters Ice Free
Never heard of a gutter heater? Well, if you live in a wintery climate, you should have. These devices are a lifesaver for homeowners who have to deal with frequent snow and ice accumulation in their gutters. Gutters can sometimes become so clogged with ice and debris that they collapse. In less severe circumstances, ice and snow blocks can cause gutters to overflow and create dangerous patches of ice on the ground beneath the gutters.
If you’ve never seen a gutter heater before, it’s a rather simple deice. The most important part of it is a (usually) 120-volt heating cable that plugs directly into an outlet. While battery powered gutter heaters do exist, they are not recommended in most circumstances for obvious reasons. Individual homeowners have also created solar-powered gutter heater systems, but such devices are obviously of limited use in areas that experience frequent cloud cover in the winter.
Looking to buy a gutter heater?
If you’re looking to purchase a gutter heater but can’t find one, be aware that these products are frequently called ice or snow melt cables in many regions. When deciding on what product you want to purchase, be sure to do your homework. These products are available online at places like Amazon.com and HomeDepot.com, as well as at many local hardware stores. Be sure to read these products’ reviews if you’re shopping online because all cables are not created equal. Some cables are more prone to failure than others, and despite similar ratings, some produce significantly more heat than others.
When planning for the installation of your gutter heater, it’s important to measure exactly how much cabling you need. Contractors recommend that you measure the entire distance around your gutter system, including any gaps, and then add 10 percent to the total amount of cabling you will need. You should also plan on buying several sets of cabling, rather than attempting to purchase one extremely long cable and wrapping it around your entire gutter system. Many gutter heater sets come with mounting brackets and screws, but others don’t. While sets that include mounting material are usually more expensive, the extra few dollars is usually worth the inconvenience unless you have the necessary materials lying around home.
A gutter heater system does not pose a significant safety hazard to your home, but there are some concerns that you should consider. If you have children, be sure to explain to them what the ice melt cables are and how they are to be left alone and never played with. Also be aware that gutter heating systems should not be left completely unattended for days on end. For one, constantly having them plugged in leads to unnecessarily high electricity bills. For another, i’s important to remember that these systems can and do deteriorate over time. When failure happens, it is possible that the system can cause shorts in your electrical system. Although minimal, there is also the slight risk of an electrical fire, especially if you have your gutter heaters plugged into attic outlets