Ice Dam It!
A Blog dedicated to the
prevention of ice dams and the damage they cause.
Victorian Home Receives
Ice Dam Prevention Upgrade
Friday, January 29, 2016 9:40:00 AM
For years this home suffered from a poorly designed heat cable system using
the zig zag method. While these were the commercial style of self regulating
heat tape, the zig zag installation meant a lot of heat cable was used but
very little is accomplished in relation to the energy used...
read more
What Difference Is There
In Ice Dam Prevention Products?
Saturday, March 21, 2015 3:16:00 PM
There are different types of systems for ice dam prevention. They range
from zig zag heat tape strewn on the roof to advanced thermally conductive
materials that convey the heat to mats and meshes that are installed
underneath the shingles.... read more
New England Winter Leads
to Severe Ice Dam Problems
Posted by Greg Bublitz Wednesday, February
25, 2015 9:24:00 PM
The winter of 2014/2015 has meant severe ice dams for many New England
residents! It just doesn't seem to end. Snow, cold, more snow, more cold.
Watching the Weather Channel, the commentator said they were looking forward
to the warm up when it... read more
Do It Your Self Ice Dam
Prevention System
Posted
by Greg Bublitz Thursday, December 25, 2014 1:57:00 PM
Home Owner Do-It-Yourself attempt at an ice dam prevention system. The
street looked familiar as I pulled onto. Sure enough, I had already
estimated an ice dam prevention system on this street. In fact, it was right
across the street from the house ...
read more
Do hardwire heat cables
need to be ground fault protected?
Posted by Greg Bublitz Thursday, December
18, 2014 4:24:00 PM
Self regulating heat cables need ground
fault protection! Whether you are plugging heat cables into an outlet or
hard wiring them to a junction box, heat cables require ground fault
protection. This is for the safety of the structure and its...
read more
Are Zig Zag Heat Cables Effective for Ice Dam Prevention?
Posted by Greg Bublitz Friday,
November 28, 2014 5:39:00 PM
Can the heat cables I purchase at my hardware store or big box store
effectively solve my roof ice dams? It might seem a little strange,
but I pay attention to heat cable systems on roofs of homes and
businesses. Most are easy to spot because of...
read more
Concealed Ice Dam Prevention System
Posted by Greg ublitz Tuesday, April
29, 2014 9:19:00 PM
Release Date 4/29/14 We are proud to post an update to our ice dam
prevention products offer - the IceBlaster EMS Hidden Heat. This
great product features a single cable run that can have different
heat outputs making it suitable for different...
read more
What Can Be Done to Prevent Ice Dams?
Posted by Greg ublitz Saturday, April
05, 2014 1:41:00 PM
What can be done to prevent ice dams? Ice dam prevention falls under
two categories. 1) Treating the causes and 2) Treating the symptoms.
Sometimes the solution requires a combination of both. Understanding
why the ice dam is forming is critical to ...
read more
How to operate the AS Digital Thermostat Controller
Posted by Greg blitz Thursday,
February 20, 2014 1:52:00 PM
For the best performance of your heat cable and radiant roof edge
ice dam prevention system, it is a good idea to have the heat cable
system on at temperatures that they will be most effective. This
means that they should be on as it approaches...
read more
Is Roof Venting Necessary for Ice Dam Prevention
Posted by Greg blitz Thursday,
January 23, 2014 1:05:00 PM
RoRoof and Ridge Vents Serve a Purpose One of the most common ideas in
ice dam prevention is that roof ventilation is required. The idea is
that if the attic is cool the snow will not melt. So roof venting
pulls in 'cool' air from the soffits or...
read more
Does Metal Roof Prevent
Ice Dams?
Friday, March
15, 2013 7:48:00 AM
Can Metal Roofing Prevent Ice Dams - The
Truth! Residential metal roofing salesmen often promote that metal roofing
products are a great way to prevent ice dams. They toute metal's ability to
let the snow slide right off. The logic is 'no snow, no...
read more
How Do I Get Rid of My
Roof Ice Dam?
Wednesday,
March 13, 2013 9:16:00 PM
Roof and Gutter Ice Dams Are a Winter
Menace! They can build so quickly and go unnoticed until it is too late. The
water starts dripping in through the trim on the window. Or it shows up as a
stain on the ceiling. The icicles dripping on the stairs ...
read more
IceBlaster Edge Melt
System Concealed Ice Dam Prevention System
Thursday, March 07, 2013 9:30:00 AM
The end of unsightly zig zag heat tape on the roof! The old solution to ice
dam problems was to string up some heat tape from the hardware store in a
zig zag fashion on the roof edge. These were occasionally effective if the
snow fall was less than ...
read more
Plugged Ridge Vent Doesn't
Solve Ice Dam Issues
Monday, March 04, 2013 7:24:00 AM
Roof Ventilation is a must! A
real issue home owners face is proper roof ventilation. All roofing
manufacturers require a roof to be ventilated. There are some exceptions
with what are known as 'hot roofs' or insulated panels that comprise the...
read more
Do Gutters Cause Ice Dams?
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
2:27:00 PM
Gutters and Ice Dams One question that is often posed
by homeowners is "Can I just take my gutters off to prevent ice dams?" The
reasoning goes like this. The snow melts on the roof, runs down to the
gutter, and refreezes there. If there is no...
read more
Roof Ice Dam Prevention
and Home Automation Systems
Thursday, January 31, 2013 9:52:00 AM
Efficient Roof and
Gutter Ice Dam Prevention System Operation We are often asked about the best
way to operate a roof and gutter ice dam prevention system. The simplest way
is a light switch. Turn the system on when you want it to operate and off...
read more
How Do I Operate My Heat
Cable System?
Tuesday,
January 29, 2013 8:24:00 PM
How To Operate Your Roof or Gutter
Heat Tape? Several individuals recently sought out WI Ice Dam Solutions for
advice on how to operate their heat cables. What temperatures should they
turn their roof heat cables on at? Should they let the ice dam...
read more
Beware - Roof Raking Can
Cause Ice Dams
Tuesday,
January 08, 2013 9:24:00 AM
THE CURE BECOMES THE CAUSE! Often
touted as a cure for ice dams, roof raking often creates ice dams in worse
places. Roof raking accomplishes its best results when all of the snow can
be removed from the roof. Only removing a portion of the snow...
read more
Can Roof Heat Cables Use Solar Power?
Friday, March 09, 2012 2:01:00 PM
Solar Powered Heat Cables? With so much emphasis on going green, saving
energy and reducing our carbon foot print, many wonder about the use of
solar power to operate a heat cable system for ice dam prevention. While it
is not feasible to operate... read more
Do Roof and Gutter Ice Melt Systems
Need a Thermostat Controller?
Monday, January 30, 2012 3:18:00 PM
Common Misconception One of the biggest misconceptions about self regulating
heat cables is whether or not they turn themselves off in warm temperature.
The simple answer is they do not turn themselves off when temps rise above
freezing. To turn ... read more
VersaScreen IceBlaster To Partner
With Bylin Roof Ice Melt Systems
Thursday, January 12, 2012 12:21:00 PM
Finally! A Roof Ice Melt System and Heated Gutter Protection System that are
compatible. Release - VersaScreen Gutter Protection VersaScreen Gutter
Protection and Bylin Roof Ice Melt Systems have inked a distribution
agreement for the VersaScreen ... read more
How Much Do Roof Heat Cables Cost
To Run?
Sunday, January
08, 2012 6:40:00 AM
With energy costs rising, pocket books
shrinking, and energy consumption becoming an increasing concern, one should
consider the operating cost of a Roof and Gutter Ice Dam Prevention System.
Several factors go into estimating operating costs... read more
How Much Do Roof Deicing Systems
Cost?
Saturday, January
07, 2012 8:24:00 AM
Many factors contribute to the cost of a Roof
and Gutter Ice Melting System. Products used, design considerations,
electrical requirements, and areas to be protected - all influence the final
cost of a system. With the internet it is possible to... read more
Why We Use Bylin Roof Ice Melt
Technology
Friday,
January 06, 2012 7:33:00 PM
A good reputation is an important
possession. It takes time to earn it, it can't be bought, it is more
valuable than gold, it can easily be lost. Some try to earn it through
bravado or hype. Others recognize the value of effort and hard work...
read more
What Do Straw Dogs Have To Do
With Roof Ice Melt Systems?
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 7:04:00 AM
A straw dog is something - an idea, concept, design, etc. - set up
for the purpose of destroying it, degrading it, or otherwise demeaning it to
make something else look better. In business, the straw dog usually does not
accurately depict what is...
read more
New Roof Edge Melt System
Sunday, March 20, 2011
6:32:00 PM
Introducing the Edge Melt Systemâ„¢! We will soon be offering the Edge Melt Systemâ„¢ in the spring of 2011.
The product features an extruded aluminum panel that is heated by one self
regulating heat cable. The aluminum alloy... read more
Ice Busting Goes High Tech
Wednesday, February 09, 2011 4:57:00
PM
While Showing Park City to some visiting friends one
spectacularly sunny day last winter, I noticed how enthralled they were with
the massive icicles suspended from practically every house we passed. They
insisted I stop several times so they could...
read more
Plan Now For Winter!
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
4:50:00 PM
Record-breaking snowfalls occurred this past winter in
many areas of the United States. The snow, along with icicles and ice dams,
also caused another record to be set in many areas - roof damage. Even
during winters without heavy snow, however, ice ...
read more
What causes an ice dam?
Monday, January 31, 2011
4:02:00 PM
Ice Dam Causes Very simply - snow and heat. Ice dams
are formed when snow melt refreezes at the eaves (gutters) and in the
valleys. Causes for snow melt can be heat loss from the house, solar
radiation (sun's rays) and temperature fluctuations...
read more