The Problem With Zig-Zag Heat Cables

Traditional “Zig-Zag” heat cables are not designed to clear your entire roof edge: rather, they merely melt away ice and snow in the area immediately surrounding the cables. Here are some of the problems inherent in these heat cables’ design:

• At best, any heating cable, either self-regulating or constant wattage, works only moderately well when there is a very modest amount of snow accumulation.

• In areas where structures have 12″ of snow or more accumulated on rooftops for a large portion of the winter, or where annual snowfall exceeds 75″, zig-zag cables are rendered practically useless:

• Tunnels will form in the snow pack resulting in the reformation of ice dams between, on top of and all around the cables’ “zig-zag pattern”. With anything more than a moderate amount of snow, the cables simply can’t do anything to help.

• Zig-zag cables are unsightly during warm weather months: a constant reminder even on warm sunny days that winter will be back again!

Roof De-Icing Systems offered by Engineered Roof Deicing provide an attractive and cost-effective method to ensure that a building owner never has to experience the frustration, destructiveness and cost of water damage caused by the inability of their roof to drain water during the winter months. Our products are designed to handle even the harshest winter conditions and the largest snowfalls, so you can have the peace of mind, and total protection you want and need.