1. History & Overview of Deicing Systems

History

Old ideas relied on heating cables laying on the roof in a zig zag fashion. Most of the heat produced was quickly lost to the atmosphere. The resulting system was often ineffective, easily overwhelmed, and short lived.

In the early 1990’s, systems were developed that coupled the heat cables with thermally conductive materials. While these systems weren’t manufactured to our exacting standards, they were still a big leap forward in ice dam prevention. In the 2000’s, some attempts were made to improve this idea. These systems still fell short of effective heat transfer to the cover panel and were overly expensive.

Overview of Edge Melt Systems Products

Improving on the original concept and avoiding the problems of earlier attempts by others, Edge Melt Systems’ products have advanced the technology, perfecting the balance between heat transfer (function) and aesthetic beauty (form). Our roof ice prevention systems have been successfully installed throughout the country from the state of Washington to Maine. Edge Melt Systems’ products are ideal for the Midwest, New England, the Great Lakes Snow Belt, and the Mountain West.

Comprehensive Product Line

Edge Melt Systems is the only company to offer a comprehensive product line. No other manufacturer and supplier of roof ice prevention systems can compete with our offer.

• Roof Heat Panels
• Heat Cable
• Controllers
• Gutter Protection
• Specialty Panels
• Custom Designs

Technology

Edge Melt Systems’ products have been engineered to achieve the highest performance level. This is proven by how effective the system is at preventing ice dams and contending with snow storms. Our decades of experience fosters our technology. Our production process measures fabrication tolerances to four thousandths of an inch. Our heat cables have a tolerance of .010” and are backed with an industry leading ten-year limited warranty. These tolerances are vitally important to the performance of our systems.

This approach gives you the confidence that NOTHING is overlooked! Check out our full product line.

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All Season Gutter Guards

The VersaScreen gutter guard system prevents gutter and downspout clogging debris from entering the gutter system. Yet it can easily be cleaned. The VersaScreen gutter guard system is unparalleled in its performance and ease of installation. VersaScreen is available in a patented (US9121179 B2) heated version, which will further enhance the performance of the deicing system.

 

Your 'One Stop Shop' for Ice Dam Prevention Supplies 

We are the ‘One Stop Shop’ for your ice dam prevention system needs. Our complete system approach includes a variety of heated panels, heated and unheated gutter guards, heat cables, and control systems. We manufacture standard products for virtually all types of roofs, which we stock for rapid delivery. We can also provide custom products for unique applications. Our ability to customize to your needs is unmatched.

Real Lower Cost

IceBlaster & VersaScreen are very competitively priced. But the real advantage is the reduced installation cost because our products are engineered to be the smartest, simplest, and fastest system to install. Additionally, with our flexible components, left over materials can be used on the next job leading to little or no waste.  Allowing the contractor to purchase and stock inventory provides greater flexibility over competing systems. This means you can make real time changes and not face long delays awaiting new material to be shipped to you. Contact us to order now!

 

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 2. Edge Melt Systems Products

Note: Not every feature of a home is included in the House Isometric Drawing. Its purpose is to familiarize you with typical uses for Edge Melt Systems products. EMS products are suitable for all snow areas and can be customized to specific job site requirements.

Eaves (heated eave and specialty panels)

• EP-DC and EP-SC for standard roof edges and overhangs
• EP-EO for extended or exposed overhangs
• EP-LRP for low sloped membrane roofs
• EP-MR for metal roofs with exposed or concealed fasteners
• SP-SSR for retrofit standing seam metal roofs

Gutters (heated gutter protection and heated gutter products)

• Need Gutter Leaf Protection
  • HGS-MaxPro for heated gutter protection
  • HGS-FEPro or FE5 for heated gutter protection
  • HGS-FE5 in combination with EP-DC, SC, EO, LS, MR
• No Gutter Protection
  • HGS-GMX for heating gutter bottom heating
  • HGS-CCB for single cable gutter bottom heating
  • HC in gutter bottom and downspout

Valleys (heated valley panels)

• VP-MW for metal W style valleys
• VP-SV for woven or closed cut (California) style valleys Along Dormers (heated utility and specialty panels)

Specialty Areas

• SP-CM for creating a positive heated drainage path to lower area
  • Also useful for draining upper downspouts to lower gutters
• VP-SV for creating a heated roof area for drainage Skylights, Around Chimneys and Heavy Drifting Areas (heated utility and specialty panels)
• VP-SV for wrapping around chimneys and saddle/cricket area
• SP-SM for creating large melt paths below skylights and roof areas that typically build up with heavy snow accumulations from drifting and blowing snow

 3. Snowfall Map 

Snowfall amounts affect ice dam formation. Melted snow is the fuel for ice dam formation. Our Annual Average Snowfall map is for reference only. It is not intended as a guarantee of expected snowfall. Annual snowfall amounts can be double or more the annual average and changes in climate over time may affect the classification of certain areas.

This map is intended to assist you in making a wise decision on which products to use.
As a rule of thumb, the more snow fall you experience in your area, the more robust your system will need to be.

EXTREME  

• Greater than 120 inches annually
• Individual snow fall events routinely exceed 15 inches
• Snow accumulations on the roof in excess of 15 inches for much of the season
• Alpine areas and mountain resort areas
  • Western mountain areas
  • New England mountain/resort areas
• Great Lakes lake effect snow belt
  • Northern and Western Michigan and the upper peninsula
  • Northern Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania
  • Western New York - Buffalo to Rochester to Syracuse
• Areas in Heavy that experience

HEAVY  

• Generally less than 100 inches annually
• Individual snow fall events rarely exceed 15 inches
• Snow accumulations on the roof generally do not exceed 20 inches for much of the season
• Upper Midwest to New England
• Eastern Colorado and Wyoming through the upper central plains
• Areas of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio that are not in lake effect snow belt
• New Jersey, northern West Virginia
• Long Island and northern plains (can also be considered Moderate)
• Areas in Moderate that experience severe drifting should consider using products rated for Heavy areas

MODERATE  

• Generally less than 40 inches annually
• Individual snow fall events rarely exceed 6 inches
• Snow accumulations rarely exceed six inches on the roof throughout the season
• Moderate areas that experience prolonged below freezing temperatures should consider products designed for Heavy areas
  • This would include the northern plains

 4. Heat Cable Selections for Different Conditions

Our products are available for Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional applications

VARIABILITY:

Our systems are designed to be adaptable. Steeper and larger roofs can create unique circumstances that require higher heat output. A heat cable system is not ‘highly efficient’ if it does not address these situations. While the coupling of heat cables with heat-transferring metals can greatly improve their performance, there is not a one size fits all solution. It is up to the property owner to decide if they prefer a system that uses less energy with lower heat output or one that uses more energy with higher heat output. Often, it is the higher heat output systems that can be turned off sooner and use less energy in the long run. Therefore, when given a choice for the heat cable applicable to your Class Area and product, the higher heat output option will always perform better at the extremes in temperature and snow fall amount.

*Caution - most competitor “so-called” 12 watt cables produce 6 watts or less when used in ice melt systems. Single cable systems can be easily overwhelmed by heavier snowfalls and may not recover sufficiently when lower powered heat cables are used. This includes the thin, steel heated edge brackets.

 5. Color Selection for EMS Products