Thermal Heat Panel Systems protect against ice build up that can damage shingles and create water leaks in your roofs and walls.
A Problem That Won’t Go Away?
Unfortunately, most homes have water and ice dam issues because of inherent design problems that homeowners must manage effectively to protect their homes. Recurring ice issues may occur if your home has any of the following:
- Skylights…allow heat loss, causing melting on or around the skylight, and ice buildup as the melted snow moves away from the skylight area.
- Vaulted Ceilings…usually translate into less insulation which, in turn, equates to more heat loss. This creates melting above the rooms that have vaulted ceilings, then freezing on the edges of the roof, away from room footprint, where the roof overhangs. This freezing will cause backups as more, and more snow melts from heat loss.
- Poor Attic Insulation…. warm attic air melts the snow on the roof and the water refreezes along the colder edge of the roof. The ice traps water behind it, allowing the water to seep back under the shingles and leak through the roof.
“It’s really is a vicious cycle,” says Catherman. “Without intervention of some type, a homeowner could have a recurring problem.”
Controlling The Process…Protecting Your Home
“We recognize that once an ice problem is identified, changing the structure of the home to fix the problem is probably not an option, if for no other reason, the cost,” Catherman says. “So we focused our attention on managing the situation, creating a strategy to protect homes against ice build-up and subsequent water damage.” There are two primary components:
- Heat Panel System—which melts snow and eliminates ice build up and the problems they can cause.
- Heat Cable—cable which can be run through gutters and downspouts, eliminating ice build up.
The combination of these products melt snow and ice, never allowing the build up. The Heat Panel System can be equipped with a variety of controls to assist in managing the process. They include:
- Thermostat Control—which senses temperature and is set to run continuously at temperatures of 35 degrees and under
- Dual Sensing Control— senses combination of moisture and temperature. Engages when the temperature is at freezing or below AND there is moisture/snow present
- Manual Control—The system is hard wired to a light switch in your home and the system relies on you to turn on and off. If you travel for extended periods, you have to decide how to run the system.
“This strategy provides dependable protection against water and ice damage to your shingles (which maintains your warranty) and also protects the interior of your home against water damage and mold.”
"If you have confidence in the Farmer’s Almanac, you are already expecting a heavier snow fall this coming winter than last year. Last year also produced a lot of snow, freezing and thawing, and a great deal of ice damage to homes. In fact, builders we work with tell us that a majority of the homes in the Madison area experienced some ice damage. That includes ice dams that cause shingle, gutter and downspout damage in addition to causing water back-ups frommelted snow seeping under shingles and leaking into homes causing stains,mold or other larger structural issues." Dave Catherman, Owner Gutter glove Wisconsin.
