The gutter heat tape or cable is run in special patterns across roofs in gutters and along downspouts where ice usually forms collects and eventually creates what are known as ice dams.
Gutter heat tape cost.
Heat cable is a similar product but it is designed for installation on the edge of your home s roof near the eaves.
Remove snow before it freezes and turns into ice it s ideal to remove snow from your roof before ice dams are formed.
Note any valleys in the roof c that exist where the heat cable will be installed.
Installing heated cable in existing gutters is less expensive than building brand new gutters with heating capabilities.
Measure the linear feet of roof eave a that you want to protect.
Measure the depth of the eave b.
This allows you to fairly compare prices of an 80 foot cable with a 90 foot cable.
The cost of gutter heater cables depends on how big your roof is and how much heat tape it will need to prevent ice from forming.
To simplify comparisons calculate the cost of each cable per foot.
An average cost of heated gutter system can range anywhere from 2000 4000.
Putting heat cables inside gutters and downspouts will add about 200 300 for every 100 feet of roof edge length.
Installing gutter heat tape is meant for the prevention of the ice dams not for getting rid of them once already formed.
Basic steps for measuring for heat tape purchase installation.
Heat cables for roofs and gutters have widely varying price points primarily depending on the length of the cable.
A heated gutter system can cost anywhere from 430 to 4 000 depending on your home.
With each box covering 40 feet a 1 500 square foot house will need four packs of cable for a total cost of 220.
If you live in a warmer climate like san antonio gutter heat tape is an easy solution to frozen gutters that can also increase the gutters lifespan.
When to install heat tape.
Heat tape is a protected electrical cord that when used in gutters and pipes can stop them from freezing also known as gutter heat cables or gutter heaters heat tape helps to prevent ice dams from forming.
If you live in colder regions taking extra steps to ensure snow and ice don t block your gutters is an issue you will face every winter.
You should have them run the entire length of your gutter systems.
If you can you should have them running along the eaves as well.
The type of heat tape used on roofs and gutters to prevent ice buildup is properly called heat cable.
If there are gutters make note of the number of downspouts.
Thus your total cost when hiring a contractor will be 500 600.
The term heat tape refers to another product an insulated electrical wire applied to water pipes to keep them from freezing and bursting.
Heat tape costs an average of 55 per 100 feet.