Do you want to learn how to install gutter heater cable at home? Try these three quick steps and install them as soon as possible to help your roof or walls from damage caused by the snow. It is more effective if you install the gutter heater if the winter is approaching than on days with snow. It will help you access the roof without the freeze.
A gutter heater will prevent the snow from forming an ice dam. Most ice dams exist in heavy snows, which can damage your walls or, worst, tear your gutter down.
Install a gutter heater cable in your home to prevent these common things from happening. The gutter heater cable releases heat to melt the ice and allows the melted ice to run down in your gutter. Do you want to learn more, my friend? Please, continue reading!
Steps To Install Gutter Heater At Home
Before you jump into installing a gutter heater in your home, you must first choose the type of gutter heater you need to use in your house. Some various types of gutter heaters have a temperature sensor that automatically turns on when it reads colder temperatures. In contrast, others need to wire into a separate breaker or require to be plugged in. But, there are also things you must consider before you install a gutter heater. Use 3-prong grounded plugs that connect directly to an outlet, then plug it into a GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) receptacle to ensure that the excess electric flow runs into the ground to prevent electrical shock, including using UL-listed wires.
These cables are known to be safe, especially the gutter heater wires you are planning to install will deal with a lot of water. Installing a gutter heater requires you to go into your roof, and if you are afraid of height, please call a professional to help you. But if you are confident that you can sand a person who is not scared of heights, then let’s dive into the steps on how to install gutter heater cable at home!
Step #1. Measure the wire that you need
The first thing you need to do is determine the measurement of the wire you need on your roof. So, before you purchase, it will be more convenient to know the exact size of wires you need to prevent you from coming back and forth in the store. You need to go to the roof and get the roof’s measurements, the eave’s depth from the overhang and outside wall. If your eave overhang measures 12 inches below, multiply the roof-line by 4. If the eaves go 12 inches to 24 inches, multiply it by 5.3 and multiply it by 6.8 if it is by 24 up to 32 inches.
After measuring the eaves, measure the length of each downspout from the upper part to the bottom. You can set the heater wire back into the roof and add another measurement back to the top if you want to. Then, measure the edge of your roof from where you will start the cable to the end. The end of the line must be where your wires are connected to the outlet. The total length of the wire you need totals all of the measurements. You can add a few inches as an extra measure.
Step #2. Route the cables
Now that you have the exact measurement you will need, you can purchase the gutter heater. After you bring the cables, you can make a route for the wires to the roof. Start your routing from the electrical outlet to the top. Clip the wire to one of the shingle’s edges to the roof, away from the outside walls. The clip will hold the wire still and allows you to go through. After you make a route, you need to make a cable loop. You may also be interested to know about prevent electrical outlets from overheating.
Step #3. Make a loop and zig zag
Attach the loop to the last edge of the shingles in the roof. Now that you are done making a loop start to form the zigzag. Run the cable from the top to the bottom while creating a triangular between the wires. After making a zigzag, bend the line to the shingle and attach it to the clip.
Run the cables into the other part of the roofs by making more zigzag cable patterns until you have completely covered the entire top, then run the wires to the gutter when you reach the end of the roof, to the downspout, and back to the starting point o the cables. After you have reached the starting point, you can now plug the cable into the outlet. Ensure that the heating cables were appropriately attached and functioning well. After checking, you can now unplug the wire until the snow comes.
It’s A Wrap!
Congratulations! You finally learned how to install gutter heater cable at home. You can now install it by yourself and prevent ice dams into your outdoor walls and protect your shingles and your house from damage during the snow or winter seasons. Hope this article helped you with your question about gutter heaters. You may also want to read about which heater is better and what is forced air heater.