Prevent ice dams with deicing cables
1 of 1The deicing cable solution
Deicing cables melt passageways for water to flow off the roof and prevent dams.
If you have persistent ice dams, and other solutions are difficult to implement, don't hesitate to use deicing cables. Ice
dams result from repeated cycles
of thawing and freezing, which cause
snow and ice to melt, then freeze along
the roof edge (lead photo). This “dam”
traps water, allowing it to
work under the shingles.
Deicing cables heat the
roof edge and keep it free
of ice.
Install the cables along
the roof edge where ice
tends to build up. Attach the cables
following the manufacturer's
directions. Then
simply plug them into a
ground fault circuit interrupter
receptacle after
heavy snowfalls or when
you see ice dams beginning
to form. These cables
are available at select
hardware stores and home centers,
starting at $35. Systems that include
sensors that turn on automatically cost
substantially more. Also find them online. (One brand is Easy Heat.)
The only downsides are the cost of
electricity (which is small for a standard
cable used intermittently), and
routing the draining water away so it
doesn't freeze and build up at the end
of the downspout.
