This new video on the Edge Melt Systems Youtube page discusses the common question, "Are zig-zag cables effective at preventing ice dams on roofs?" The video also showcases photos of commercial and box-store zig-zag heat cabling installed on real homes facing ice dam issues.

The Edge Melt Systems "Product Showcase" series was designed to show off products that are offered in ice dam solutions we offer. Recently, several new videos have added to the series on being posted, including videos to showcase the double cable eave panel, the single cable eave panel, and the double cable valley panel. These videos explain what these products are capable of, and what they can be used for. They additionally show demo photos of the products, alongside real photos of the products installed on existing roofs and houses.

 

Below is the product showcase video for the double cable eave panel. If you wish to see more, please visit our Youtube channel here, and find our product showcase playlist there, or visit the products page of our website to learn more about the products we offer to solve ice dam issues.

Here to the left, you can see an example of an ice dam forming higher up on an individual's home. The lower section, which had been raked, had allowed for a new cold edge for form. Along that cold edge, a new ice dam formed, freezing at the edge of the snowline on the roof. This new ice dam can cause even more damage, potentially causing even more widespread leaking.

What can be done?

The obvious next question then is "What can be done to prevent ice dams?" If you are looking for a real solution to ice dams, and have found other methods impractical or ineffective, we provide a real, effective solution to your ice dam issues. Don't struggle with roof raking or built up ice dams anymore. Contact us for a comprehensive quote for a solution to your ice dam problems.

Edge Melt System's "Product Showcase" Series was designed to show off and help you learn about different products that we offer. This video covers the gutter melt extrusion, or GMX, product. Using both demo photos and real, installed examples, it shows how the GMX product can be a good solution for gutter heating for commercial buildings.

The Product Showcase Series by Edge Melt Systems is here to help you learn more about our products. This video demonstrates the superior result of using Drexan Self-Regulating Heat Cables vs. using other brands. This was demonstrated last winter when Drexan Heat Cables were installed on one side of the building and another brand was used on the other. The conditions were the same.

The Product Showcase Series by Edge Melt Systems is here to help you learn more about our products. This video allows you to see how easy our product is to install and provides a real life application and explanation of some of the product choices that made.

This video provides pictures an explanation and evidence to answer commonly asked questions about ice dam formation with or without gutters. To learn more information about how ice dams are formed you can visit the FAQ portion of our website:What is an ice dam?

We have added our DC Series of Roof Ice Prevention System Controller to the catalog - phasing out the DC Flex digital controller. While the Flex was a great controller, many customers only needed a one or two circuit controller. The DC Series offers 2, 4, and 8 circuit controllers to meet installation demands. All of our controllers are built to UL508a industrial standards for safety and reliability.

The install guide downloads are here for the DC-AS22, DC-AS4 and DC-AS8.

Also updated is the data sheet for the HGS-CCB. The cable cover bracket is useful for routing a single run of heat cable in the gutter bottom. This improves the heat transfer of the heat cable while protecting it from damage. A single CCB in the gutter bottom can greatly minimize the ice build up in 5 or 6 inch gutters. It can also be used to route heat cable anywhere on a roof in an efficient, concealed and aesthetically pleasing way.

Get your catalog today!

Ice dams result from the gradual melting of snow on the roof caused by heat loss from the house/building, solar gain (the sun warms the snow and roof surface), and temperature fluctuation. When snow is melted at below freezing temperatures, it can refreeze in the gutter. This is because the gutter is exposed and uninsulated by the snow on the roof.

Homes and buildings without gutters can suffer from ice dams as well. Again, it is the exposed, uninsulated roof edge where the melt water will refreeze. Removing the gutters from a home will not stop ice dams from forming. And, it can lead to foundation problems and wet basements.

How can gutter heaters prevent ice dams and icicles?

It is a simple matter of keeping the gutters and downspouts warm enough to prevent the water created by the melted snow from freezing. Using gutter heaters to accomplish this is the most effective method to prevent gutter ice dams and icicles.

Gutter heaters are more that just stringing up the hardware store zig zag heat tape on the roof edge. It involves better design. A high-quality self-regulating heat cable can be routed in an aluminum housing called a Cable Cover Bracket (CCB). This design greatly improves the heat transfer of the heat tape to the gutter and also serves to protect the gutter heat cable. 

It is also important to route the heat cable through the downspout. If this is not done, the melt water in the gutter can refreeze in the downspout and cause them to burst open or back up. The heated gutter heat cable cover bracket is not used in the downspout of course. It is easiest to disassemble the downspout first to easily route the cable through it. When putting the downspout back together, great care should be taken so as to not allow the downspout fasteners to damage the heat tape. 

How effective are gutter heaters at preventing roof and gutter ice dams?

Gutter heaters can be highly effective at preventing ice dams. If you don't allow the melt water to refreeze in the gutters, ice dams cannot easily form. For many homeowners, the addition of gutter heaters (the gutter heat cable used in the gutter bottom and downspout along with the addition of the heat cable cover bracket - CCB) may be all that is needed. If more roof ice prevention is needed because of greater snow depth, architectural features (valleys, dormers, etc.), greater heat loss and other factors, then it is as simple as adding to the system. Gutter heaters are always used, so starting with them is a wise decision.

The bottom line on gutter heaters for roof ice dam prevention!

Just stringing the hardware store zig zag heat cables in the gutter bottom is not the place to start. Many of our customers come to us after having tried this method. Don't go through that frustration. Our top of the line self-regulating heat cable will last for years - a decade and more. Couple these heat cables with our heavy gauge aluminum or copper roof heat cable cover bracket (CCB) and you have a system that will provide you with years of worry-free ice dam prevention protection.

If you need help with layout, design or just need to find out how to order - fill out the form HERE and we will be happy to help.

As the owner of Edge Melt Systems Roof Ice Prevention, I regularly talk with our installing contractors. I have a vested interest in their success as businesses and professional installers of our products. I take the time to educate and listen. It was during a conversation with Greg Greene, the owner of New England Ice Solutions, that I learned of a project where they removed a competitor's roof ice melt system from a residence in Massachusetts.

As it turned out, the system had suffered catastrophic failure due to the heat cables suffering a 'wet fire'. This is caused by installing the system without the proper ground fault protection. (I know, that is the responsibility of the electrician. But, you can be absolutely sure that we cover that with our contractors to make sure this is not overlooked. Additionally, all systems are quoted with our GFEP units. WE DO NOT TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED. Your safety and the protection of your home are a paramount concern.) Wet fires result from a damaged heat cable igniting and continuing to melt or burn until the heat cable is consumed. The picture here shows a project replaced on a daycare center. No ground fault protection was used. The same was the case on the above home in New England. 

The guys at New England Ice Solutions inspected the project, including the electrical panel. It was discovered that the contractor who installed the system did not use ground fault protection. All hard wired heat cable systems are required to use Equipment Ground Fault Protection by the National Electric Code. How this was overlooked is beyond me. But, the result was the heat cables caught on fire. Bad installations are a blight on the industry. Fortunately, this one didn't burn the house down.

NEIS removed the existing roof ice prevention system and installed and expertly designed system from Edge Melt Systems. It included our Heated Eave and Valley Panels along with our highly efficient and reliable heat cable system controller - the DC Flex.

Poorly Designed Control System was another shortcoming.

Another problem with the original installation was the choice and location of the roof ice prevention system controller.  As can be seen in the picture here, the moisture sensor was mounted in an area that 1) is likely to collect less snowfall, and 2) does not stand a chance to catch any dripping that would allow for retriggering. The first is important to turn the system on at the right time - as the snow is falling. The second is important to allow the system to be on at the most important time - during the gradual melting the days and weeks after a snowfall while there is snow on the roof.

The poor placement of this sensor can only be the result of a lazy contractor or a contractor who didn't know better because the roof ice prevention manufacturer failed to educate him properly. It's a good thing this homeowner has New England Ice Solutions replacing her ice dam prevention system. They are true experts.

NEIS abandoned the snow sensing unit in favor of the DC Flex controller from Edge Melt Systems. Its versatility, functionality, and affordability are unmatched. Its indoor installation also means this homeowner won't have to come outside to interact with her ice melt system controller.

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

It's really unfortunate for this customer that she had to pay for the prior poor installation. And, it isn't always a story of 'you get what you pay for either'. The competitor's system does come with a hefty price tag for a system with inferior performance. 

Don't make the same mistake. Our systems are better designed and better performing. Our support is excellent. We take the time to educate you so you or YOUR CUSTOMERS do not have to learn the hard way.

The common consensus has been that ice dams are caused by warm attics. So, the logical solutions is cool the attic down. Insulate and ventilate. And, for some homes with inadequate levels of either, that can go a long way in solving ice dams on the roof. Of course, air sealing is absolutely necessary as well - this being a first step or the most important thing you can do.

Newer homes shouldn't have ice dams then, right? With advanced building codes and construction practices requiring proper levels of insulation and ventilation along with air tight ceiling barriers, ice dams should be a thing of the past. But they aren't. We have seen an influx of requests on newly built homes along with homes in the design phase looking for roof and gutter ice dam prevention systems. Why? Architecture.

Architecturely appealing homes often have gables and valleys that create real issues. Larger roof sections are funneled down to a small gutter section and these are often shaded. To make matters worse, this situation occurs over the front entry creating a hazard for guests coming to the home and an unsightly mess for all to see.

It is easy to see why the home pictured here is going to have problems. All of the massive amount of roof is funneled to a small gutter area. Compounding the problem is the corners (or gutter miters) which create areas where the water flow will be restricted. No amount of additional insulation or ventilation is going to solve this roof and gutter ice dam problem problem. It purely architectural.

The project pictured here had a similar problem. For years, the homeowners had to continually salt the side walk leading to the front entry because of the dangerous ice build up resulting from the constant dripping from the roof and gutter edge. The large roof area was directed down to the short gutter run at the front entry. Two valleys, short gutter, freezing temps, snow on the roof = ice dam problems. This was a newer home built to code and they still had problems. What was done to fix this issue?

Roof and gutter ice prevention system was the only real solution.

After battling this problem for several years, the owner opted to have a heated gutter guard and heated valley panels installed. The system was the VersaScreen MaxPro and EMS VP-MW (heated valley panels for metal W valleys). He coupled that with the DC Flex digital controller for worry free operation. How did it work out for him? Here is his testimonial from the installing contractor...

Just wanted to let you know how well the work that you did at our Trillium Lane, Slinger property last fall is working. I am beyond pleased halfway thru winter. We have had zero ice buildup thus far. After battling ice dams in three homes over near 40 years of home ownership, this is the first time I believe we have a solution. Might be the best $$$ I ever spent.

Thanks again. And please feel free to use me as a reference or testimonial to the fact this does in fact take care of ice dam problems.

Whether your ice dam problems are caused by what's going on inside OR outside of your home, we have the solution. Our systems are designed to STOP ice dams and icicles before they form. We have the most comprehensive line of products for whatever your home or business requires. 

For years, our mainstay for gutter protection has been the VersaScreen Pro and its heated versions. Manufactured in house on our precision CNC Autobrake, this product allowed us to solve many ice dam problems that also required gutter protection. The heavy duty .040 aluminum with round hole perforations and durable black powder coating made the VersaScreen product line a favorite among contractors and homeowners alike. This gutter guard was excellent at keeping most leaf litter out of the gutters -

• Maples - including the 'whirly bird' helicopter seeds
• Oaks and acorns
• Ash and Elm
• Many other species

Gutter guard problems

However, there were some species that posed special problems. Spruce, pine, cedar and fir trees are often problematic for gutter guards. Holes too big and the needles go right through. Holes too small and fine stainless steel micro mesh would plug with pollen and sap. So what could be done? We experimented and tested for years. We've looked at various products on the market and have even been approached by some to handle their heat cable implementation. None met our standards. Some had thick aluminum bodies that were just too difficult to work with and didn't fit the gutter well. Others were made from steel and couldn't transfer heat efficiently. Still others were made from vinyl, plastic, or other polyethylene like products that just wouldn't last all that long.

ONE Gutter Guard - a perfect fit

Finally, we discovered ONE Gutter Guard. This product is truly unique with its interchangeable mesh inserts to meet whatever the installation location requires - from pollen to acorns. Our preference is the all around 18 mesh - stainless steel for durability. It is the right size to exclude gutter clogging debris without being plugged up with pollen, sap and asphalt oils.

• Heavy aluminum base chassis
• Multiple filtration inserts
• Well engineered design for ease of installation

Best of all the ONE Gutter Guard gutter protection system fully integrates with the full line of Edge Melt Systems ice dam prevention products. We have a great Youtube Video on the performance review of the heated ONE Gutter Guard with our Single Cable Eave Panel (EP-SC). It is really worth the under 3 minutes of screen time. We also have a data sheet available for download on this combination. 

In this featured video, the combination of the ONE Gutter Guard with the Single Cable Eave Panel from EMS had no problem keeping up with a recent 15+ inches of fresh snow and low temps in the single digits. While most gutters guards can make ice dam problems worse by allowing a place for ice to form above the gutter, this roof and gutter ice dam prevention system provides great protection winter and summer. And, it will continue to do so for many years.

Ease of installation, effectiveness, affordability, and longevity - this roof ice prevention system has it all. Give us a call or fill out the form to learn more.

We have been reporting for some time on the superiority of our roof ice prevention systems - made from heavy gauge aluminum - over competitor roof heat panel systems made from thin steel. It appears as people are catching on - they won't even publish data sheets on their website any longer. Perhaps we can expect a material change from thin 26g. pre-finished steel to heavy gauge .040 pre-finished aluminum.

(Update 4/7/2017 - I feel a little prophetic. The purveyors of thin steel systems have now thickened up their product. They went from 26 ga. to 24 ga. steel and add .032 aluminum. Step in the right direction. Still, I wonder why not just go all the way and use .040 aluminum like the real experts have been using all along. Kudos for the effort. What's next though? Maybe they will finally understand what heat transfer is all about instead of just throwing something against the wall to see if it sticks!)

So, now the discussion has changed to direct heat transfer. Let's consider a few basics first:

• All radiant heat panel systems rely on the law of thermodynamics.
• All radiant heat panel systems distribute heat primarily by conduction - which is the movement of heat energy through a solid.
• Maximizing heat transfer from the heat cable to the melting surface results in best in class design.
• Maximizing heat transfer throughout the radiant heat panel is equally important.

That last point is really the key. You see, if the material which the heat panel is made out of is a poor conductor of heat, then the whole system will suffer. The type of heat cables used in radiant roof ice prevention systems are known as self regulating heat cables. These cables are able to adjust their power output internally (a subject for another blog post). In essence, it allows the cable to keep up with demand. The colder and/or snowier it gets the more heat the heat cable produces. 

Now, put that cable in a conductive material. The heat panel will draw the heat out of the cable and it is distributed throughout the radiant roof edge
system. Efficient conduction (read aluminum heat panel) means the heat cable can continue to produce more heat to keep up with demand. Inefficient conduction (read thin steel heat panel) means the heat stacks up around the cable and the self regulating nature of the cable kicks in more aggressively. That is what happens with thin steel heated edge systems.

"Wait a minute - wouldn't that make the thin steel heated edge system more efficient?"

Yes - but under the wrong circumstances. If you needed a system that was left on for long periods of time when no snow was on the roof, then this might be a more efficient system. But when you need a roof ice prevention system to actually do the work of melting snow and preventing ice dams, the thin steel heated edge system will struggle to keep up. The result is sometimes only enough heat produced to make ice rather than keep it from forming. 

Okay, now for the proof. 

The thermal image here has two heat panels with the same heat cable running through them both. The panel on the right is fabricated from 26g. pre-finished steel. The panel on the left side is fabricated from .040 pre-finished aluminum. The top 40% of both panels are underneath the second course of shingles. You can see on both of them, the shingle area obviously has a cooler surface temp than the bottom portion which is not covered.

The stats:  

Ambient air temp was 5 degrees F. Very little to no wind.

Cloudy day. 9am - so no direct overhead sunlight.

The system was left on for two hours before taking images.

Head to head results

You can draw your own conclusions. It is possible to concoct studies from "independent" engineering firms. But seeing is believing. Our .040 pre-finished aluminum roof heat panels transfer heat far more effectively. The heat doesn't just stack up at the edge - it transfers efficiently throughout the panel providing a greater roof ice preventing surface.

The use of thin steel as the conductive heat panel is akin to hooking up a standard garden hose to a fire hydrant. Yes, water will travel through the thin hose, but not to the potential of the hydrant. Not a problem if you want to wash the car. But a really big deal if you need to put out a fire at your house. Thin steel systems = poor performance. 

Are aluminum extrusion based systems obsolete?

Not so fast on that one either. This is another half truth. Yes, extrusion based systems are more expensive. Of course they are - there is more material and another run of heat cable. But the benefit of that is the ability to produce enough heat to prevent ice dams. The concentrated placement of the heat cables and the highly conductive nature of the extrusion coupled with the .040 aluminum cover panel is a time tested system. Having been installed since the mid 1990's, this is a proof of concept, not just a concept being tested on unsuspecting customers. 

But, more on that in the future...

Need more information?

We are here to help. From answering questions to design assistance to quick turn around shipping on all of our high quality roof ice preventing products. We promise peace of mind without the hype. 

Start the process by Contacting Us!

It all started a little more than twenty years ago - the idea of embedding self regulating heat cable in a heat transfer panel. The idea expanded to using an aluminum extrusion into which the heat cable was positioned and then covered by a painted aluminum sheet metal cover. Copper was also used as the cover. They worked very well. Gone was the need to zig zag heat cables along the roof line. Gone was the heat tape being overwhelmed by heavy snow and icicles forming right over them.

High cost of installation and operation

These extrusion systems were really over engineered, requiring three runs of 12 watt/ft (8 watt per foot at 50F) heat cable plus heat cable for the gutter and downspout. That was nearly 50 watts per foot to keep ice at bay. The system at the time was also proprietary. So the high cost of the product and operation meant only resorts and those with expensive homes could afford them. That all changed in 2013 when other companies could produce these extrusion based systems. This led to big improvements in design and function. It also led to more innovation.

New designs push the limits of energy efficiency and performance

One of the new design innovations was whether the base extrusion was necessary. Could just a cover be formed in such a way that the heat cable was embedded in it? Would this improve the performance? One theory is that the extrusion requires too much energy to heat it up and thus wastes energy. The company behind this theory goes to great pains to promote that concept. The only problem is that theory doesn't jibe well with the laws of thermodynamics. The aluminum extrusion is great at conduction - highly efficient. It also helps the heat cable to operate more efficiently by providing a consistent heat transfer path. By the way, the 'anti-extrusion' company uses thin steel for their heat transfer plate. It is really evident they don't understand the laws of thermodynamics.

So, is an extrusion really necessary? Not all the time. Under some circumstances the increased heat output of the extrusion based design is absolutely necessary. Some areas just get so much snow so quickly that more heat is needed. However, under most circumstances, a heat transfer panel made of thick gauge aluminum will do the trick. Our single cable eave panel has been thoroughly tested under harsh circumstances. 

True energy efficiency with tested performance

As you can see pictured here, this ice dam prevention system is having no trouble keeping up. A single self regulating heat cable (8 watts/foot at 50F) is all that is powering the heat transfer panel. Two separate snow falls 6 days apart totaling nearly 20 inches posed no problem. In fact, with temps in the low teens as 11 inches fell, the EP-SC had no problem keeping up. That is 66% less power at the roof edge and still great performance. The EP-SC is fabricated from .040 aluminum with a Kynar 500 industrial grade finish. No flimsy, heat transfer strangling thin steel sheet metal products here. (Oh, we could make them and try to convince you they work, but why would we?)

Contact us for more information on the EP-SC and other great products from Edge Melt Systems.

We should start by saying this only applies to good quality self regulating heat cable. You should not use a CCB with the thin round constant wattage style of heat cable.

For any ice dam prevention system, heat tracing the gutters and downspouts are essential. Heat cable is routed through the bottom of the gutter and routed down each downspout or leader. This provides a clear melt path for water to drain off the roof. Regardless of what is done on the roof, the gutters ability to drain the water is required. 

So, really then, the gutter is the starting point for any effective roof ice prevention system. Gutters control run off in the summer and direct where melt water goes in the winter. The gutter is often maligned or blamed for ice dams. The short answer is ice dams form on roofs with or without gutters. The long answer is the subject of another blog.

A good roof ice prevention system should always consider adding gutters on a project where no gutters exist or they have been removed.

Why heat transfer is so important

A common experience when using heat cables is a gutter that is overwhelmed by heavy snow. The inside of the gutter right around the cable is clear along with the downspout. But, over the top, the heat cable struggles with melting the snow. Sometimes ice forms and further insulates the cable limiting its effectiveness.

Using a Cable Cover Bracket forces the heat cable to lay in the bottom of the gutter allowing for greater heat transfer. Heat transferred to the gutter is distributed over a wider area creating a larger melted area.

Simplified, effective and economical

The CCB can be used to heat long runs of gutter where only minor ice dams or icicles are a problem. The CCB can also be coupled with heated eave (EP-SO) and valley panels (VP-MW/SV) that are placed in the problem areas such as at an inside corner with a valley. This makes a whole system more affordable while maintaining an effective roof ice prevention system.

Specifics about the CCB:

• Heavy gauge aluminum for maximum heat transfer
• NEC compliant design
• Improves heat cable efficiency
• Provides a measure of protection to the heat cable
• Improves snow melting capacity
• Fits 13mm and 11mm self regulating heat cables
• Suitable for hard wire and plug in systems

Prior to the winter of 2014/15, Edge Melt Systems was contacted to help solve a tricky situation at a camp for terminally ill children. A little background on this great facility:  

Camp Prime Time - 

In 1982, two men who had enjoyed the great outdoors of the Pacific Northwest were helping two boys with disabilities fish, boat, and enjoy the wilderness. The idea struck; why not find a place to help those who are physically less fortunate learn about the outdoors and experience nature at its best?

Three years later, the two men joined with others to form a task force which studied, planned, and established a framework for a recreational facility for terminally/seriously ill or disabled children and their families. Their vision was not for a “specialized” camp, but rather a facility that could be a “setting” for individuals and their families to enjoy the beauty of the mountains.

In 1986, Prime Time was incorporated to establish and direct a camp facility. The group obtained an existing unused camp near Clear Lake in the beautiful Wenatchee National Forest. The camp is approximately seven miles east of White Pass, Washington, on Highway 12. The Prime Time staff and volunteers continue to remodel, update, and maintain the facility so that it can accommodate these special families.

-From Camp Prime Time website

The Tricky Ice Dam Problem -

The problem was a compound one requiring both ice dam prevention and gutter protection. The remoteness coupled with the gutter clogging pine and fir trees along with the heavy winter snow fall, meant Camp Prime Time needed a system that had to perform. Oh, there was a metal roof already installed that compounded the problem. How could a system be retrofitted to meet these conditions. Here is a description from the organization's president:  

Camp Prime Time is located in a very remote mountain setting experiencing moderately heavy snowfalls. Since the lodge is surrounded by large fir and pine trees, we have to contend with accumulations of needles and other debris. The combination of heat trace and the gutter guard screens has been working well. In the winter, the camp is only accessible by snowshoes or snow mobiles for periodic inspections. We have an automatic propane fired generator to provide power when the utility system is out of service. You will find information and photographs describing the camp at www.campprimetime.org.

VersaScreen Heated Gutter Guards to the rescue!

The perfect solution was our patented heated gutter guard, the VersaScreen FE5. This gutter guard features a design that is compatible with metal standing seam roofs and has a built in heat cable at the front edge to prevent ice dam formation. As one of the board members remarked about the system: 

The system is working as designed and to my knowledge without any issues. We had some major snow last year and the gutters seemed to manage it quite well. A normal year is 4 to five feet of snow on the ground. The gutter screens also seem to be doing a good job of allowing the water to enter the gutter and yet keep the needles from building up in the gutters.

Edge Melt Systems is the only Roof Ice Prevention company to provide a total solution that covers all aspects of homes, businesses, resorts, commercial institutions and more. Other manufacturers would have scratched their heads trying to cut the metal roofing back to get their system in or pushing a flimsy sheet metal heat cable bracket against the roof edge without gutter guards. EMS solved it easily.

Another constraint for Camp Prime Time was the budget. They operate off of volunteers and donations. To help with getting the camp what it needed while still meeting their budget, Edge Melt Systems provided the entire system at cost. Our systems are already more affordable than others. We wanted to go a step further to help out. If you want to donate to this worthwhile cause, just follow this LINK TO DONATE.

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Edge Melt Systems was selected over several other options to prevent the ice dam related leaking into a unique home designed by world famous architect Robert Oshatz. The multi-sectional roof arranged around a central cylindical structural shaft required expert layout along with creative thinking.

The History

The home was originally finished in 2009. Each roof 'lobe' functions as a separate free floating vegetative flat roof. Each roof had its own internal drain that would allow excess water to drain out to a roof below or to grade. Additional drain scuppers were added through many of the parapets to aid in getting water off of the roof.

Originally, roof ice prevention was not considered as part of the build. After two years of battling leaks that resulted from the vegetative roofs freezing solid, a contractor who specialized in roof ice prevention was consulted. A system was designed and a budgetary estimate was proposed  for review. At the time, this option was passed over in favor of less expensive roof fixes.

The same roof ice dam prevention expert was consulted again early in 2016. This time Edge Melt Systems was specified and quoted. The installed price was very near what the previous roof ice melt system material cost was. The contract was awarded and work was completed in June of 2016. 

The installation

It was neccsary to create 'drain paths' around the perimeter of each roof section. This was accomplished by removing the green roof media and installing Edge Melt Systems heated valley panels. The industrial grade roof heat cables from Drexan Heat Tracer were also routed into each drain and parapet scupper.

The system also featured two DC Sierra digital high efficiency controllers to operate five separate zones. This controller will provide for precision control of the heat panel temps, resulting in operating cost savings to the customer. With the DC Sierra controller, only the amount of energy necessary to maintain above freezing temperatures is used. 

The result

After the system was installed and tested, the green roof vegetative system was reinstalled. The final product left the customer hard pressed to notice that work had been done on his home.

Edge Melt Systems was chosen on the project for its superior design, performance and affordability. The installing contractor was very pleased with the support he received.

Some things are just worth waiting for. The Sierra Digital Controller by ECO is a new generation of ice dam prevention system control. It offers as much as 50% reduction in operating costs over typical ambient sensing controllers. 

So, what can you expect from the Sierra Digital Controller?

• Proportional Temperature control and Ambient Temperature Sensing with 'Window' Operation which reduces power consumption
• Precision Temp Sensors featuring an advanced, highly accurate design 
• Start Up In-rush and Current Control which increases maximum cable lengths and reduces installation costs
• Soft Starting feature that will increase cable longevity and protect the electrical supply system
• Integrated GFEP for built in safety and convenience
• 1-6 circuit versions available
• Integrated WiFi control for remote operation

How does it work?

The Sierra controller measures outside temperature. When it is at the right temp for ice dams to form, a second controller measures the temperature of the roof ice melt system heat panels and controls the amount of power sent to them to keep the roof heat panels at the right temperature to prevent ice dams. So, only the NECESSARY amount of energy is used. 

Are these features unique?

When taken as a whole, there is not another panel like it on the market. Why is that? Heat cable manufacturers focus on the industrial market where available power and budgets are generally not a concern. The cost of operating heat cables is just another entry in the ledger of the cost of doing business. High Efficiency Control Sytem Panel design has become standardized and copied from one company to the next. We weren't satisfied with that. Our engineering team searched long and hard to come up with a design that satisfied our requirements while also being affordable for the residential and commercial market. But, that doesn't mean its less of a panel. This panel is built by our UL 508A shop to meet tough industrial standards.

When you write out a check for the cost of electricity each month, you feel it. Its real to you. The more heat cable you have to power, the more you feel it. The Sierra Digital Controller helps out with that by reducing the amount of power needed to keep ice dams at bay, while allowing for peak power when its snowing heavily. Our proprietary Soft Starting function also extends heat cable life by controlling the heat cable start up so that it comes up to full power slowly. Our digital current control also means you can put more heat cable on a circuit, further saving you money at installation. 

A great retrofit to an existing system!

In the past customers had to choose between on/off control or a High Efficiency Control System based on the industrial design. The HECS panels were overly expensive, making the buy back in energy savings extremely long. Not so with the Sierra. The panels save enough energy that buy back is typically less than half of HECS panels today. The Sierra Digital Ice Dam Prevention System Controller can easily be retrofitted into an existing system (including Summit Radiant Edge and Bylin RIM) so that those customers can benefit today from a modern, well-designed, energy saving controller. 

Customers choosing to install a roof ice prevention system have great choices now. Edge Melt Systems with its ECO brand of digital controllers is leading the way. For more information, please contact us.

Many homeowners face different challenges every winter. With temperatures fluctuating above and below freezing along with increasing snow level on the roof results in having ice dams on the edge of their roof. The ice dams cause damage both on the outside and inside of the home.

What is an Ice Dam?

An ice dam is the build up of ice at the edge of a roof and in the gutter system which prevents melting ice from draining normally. The water that builds up behind the ice dam can seep into the house, causing damage to insulation, walls, ceilings, floors and other parts. Roof ice dam formation is common in areas that experience a build up of snow on the roof.

What causes ice dam formation?

Ice dams and roof ice are formed from the heat that escapes into the roof space or attic. The escaped heat builds up and melts the snow and ice on the roof surface. The melted water moves to the exposed edge of the roof and refreezes to form an ice dam. Factors like weather conditions, ventilation, home architecture, solar orientation, snow cover, tree coverage, and the lifestyle of the homeowner also contribute to ice dams on homes. The dammed up water may result in infiltration into the home leading to the formation of mold on the wall surfaces, the corrosion of metal fasteners, and decaying of structural framing.

How Can You Prevent future Ice Dam formation?

Your roof or ceiling insulation needs to be sufficient so as to minimize the loss of heat caused by conduction. It is very crucial that the ceiling is airtight to hinder the warm air from your home from moving into the attic or roof space. Insure that there are enough roof top and soffit vents to provide balanced ventilation.

What to do to prevent damage from an ice dam?

Once you think there is a problem, the next thing is to employ the services of a professional to help remove the snow and ice from the roof. It will help to eliminate the important cause of ice dam formation. The ice dam professionals also help to handle emergency situations like the flow of water into the home by creating channels through the ice dam to allow the drainage of the water. This channel is a temporary solution to ice dam damage because the channels are only effective for few days before refreezing. 

Edge Melt Systems ice dam prevention products are effectively designed to help protect your home from ice dams. These products can be installed in the locations on your home that suffer from ice dams.

We've noticed an increase in the companies offering revolutionary new, brilliantly engineered, masterfully efficient (can you detect my sarcasm yet), roof and gutter ice dam prevention systems. We assumed customers would easily see through their slick marketing and write them off. Most do, however these companies persist in misleading, so we are putting together a series of articles to help educate.

Energy Efficiency

Let's inject some common sense in the discussion - it really seems to be lacking. The basic concept is similar to a heat sink. A heat sink is a structure that transfers heat from a source of higher temperature to an area of lower temperature. Electronics are a good example as they generate heat and that heat needs to be dissipated or it can cause premature failure. This is most often done using a heat sink. They are aluminum structures that have fins which allow for the heat to be spread out into the relatively cooler air. Do a web search and see if you can find a heat sink made from steel. You may be able to, but steel never a first choice.

Steel makes a poor heatsink. Ideally you would try to find a way to use a more suitable material.

Having said that, a poor heatsink is better than no heatsink. But not by much.

Here is a table of the thermal conductivity of certain materials:

Copper - 400 W/(m.K)
Aluminum - 250 W/(m.K)
Brass - 109 W/(m.K)
Iron - 80 W/(m.K
Steel - 43 W/(m.K)

Notice how much worse steel is at transferring heat. Roof and gutter deicing systems are essentially heat sinks. They deliver the heat energy created by the roof heat cable to the snow load on the roof. There is not a compelling efficiency reason to choose painted steel for a roof deicing heat panel product.

True energy efficiency in roof ice prevetion systems can be managed through several avenues.

• Customer management of the roof ice melt system. If the customer actively participates in the operation of the system, greater efficiency can be achieved by turning the system on and off as the need arises.

• High Efficiency Control Systems (DC Sierra). These control systems measure the temperature of the roof ice melt panels and react by adjusting power output. For example, on a mild winter day with little or no wind the Roof Ice Prevention System might only being using 25% of its maximum power -far less than the amount the 'revolutionary, patent pending' single cable option uses. When conditions turn ugly, the Edge Melt System coupled with the DC Sierra has the ability to ramp up its power output to full to keep up. The single cable folded steel sheet metal heat panel quickly becomes overwhelmed and creates ice rather than preventing it.

• Thermostat control. The use of thermostat controllers in the residential market allows for 'window' operation. The heating cables are allowed to operate at temps between 10 and 34 degrees and the controller can be turned off when no snow is present to minimize energy usage.

Do extruded aluminum designs take more power?

The recent claim is that the reason extruded aluminum base panel design uses 2 runs of heating cables is that it 'wastes' the heat energy created by housing the heating cables in an extruded aluminum base. This claim indicates a lack of understanding of how self regulating heating cables work and the principles of heat transfer and the thermal conductivity of different metals. Aluminum's ability to efficiently transfer heat is well documented. It is exceeded by copper (which Edge Melt Systems use) and silver or gold for its heat transfer properties. Most other metals fall far short of aluminum. For example, the use of steel as a bracket to hold a heating cables to a steel roof edge means a system that can be 6 times less efficient - requiring more power to achieve the same results. 

Why is steel used for roof edge heated ice melt systems?

It certainly is not because of its superiority over aluminum, nor is it the result of exhaustive engineering and testing. Maybe the equipment used to make these folded sheet metal heat cable systems is not robust enough to handle thicker aluminum. (Even using .040 prefinished aluminum would represent an improvement). It may also be that when these systems were being developed there were patents still in force that prohibited copying the aluminum extrusion concept. Or, it could be just a cost thing. 

Whatever the reason, a well designed aluminum extrusion based system is always superior to a folded sheet metal heated edge. Stay tuned for the next article in this series. We will detail the physics behind our claims. I know - boring math, but we promise pictures. Oh yeah, facts as well. We think that speaks louder than bluster.

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