How to Install Heat Tape on the Roof
Installing heat tape on a roof is a tool to prevent ice and snow from building up on the roof impeding drainage through the gutter system and causing leaks in the roofing materials. The cost and trouble of installing heat tape can be a wise investment relative to the structural damage that can be wreaked by standing ice and water on and around your roof and eaves. Installing heat tape is a moderately challenging task largely because of the need to be working on a ladder up at the roof line. If attempting this installation, have at least one partner with you to stabilize the ladder as you go. In cold climates there are plenty of professional roofers and electrical contractors who can make speedy work of a heat tape installation Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Heat tape in length to cover perimeter of roof line plus eave depth
- Ladder & measuring tape
- Adequate electrical power supply for amperage of system
- Roof and gutter attachment clips included in heat tape kit
Instructions
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Determine the Length of Heat Tape Required
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1
Measure your roof line perimeter and make note of that measurement. Measure your overhang or eave. If the eave is 12 inches in depth, multiply the roof line measurement by 2. If the eave is more than 12 inches but less than 24 inches deep, multiply the roof line measurement by 3. If the eave depth is more than 24 inches but less than 48 inches multiply the roof line measurement by 4.
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2
Calculate the length of all of the downspouts and add this footage figure to the perimeter and eave sum to arrive at number of feet of heat tape you will need to purchase to effectively cover your roof.
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3
Loop the heat tape up and down in a zig-zag pattern from about 12 inches on the roof to a position hanging down over and beyond the gutter by at least 7 inches. Repeat this pattern with as many lengths as necessary to cover the entire perimeter of the roof and gutter system.
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4
Attach the heat tape to the roof and gutters with the plastic clips provided with the tape kit in the pattern outlined in the manufacturers specifications.
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5
Connect the lengths of heat tape together and plug the end into the controller unit. Mount this controller unit to the underside of the eaves along the soffit near to the power supply with the screws supplied in the kit. Connect the power cord from the controller unit to the power supply outlet and tack the power cord to the side of the building with the provided clips.
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