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Heat Tape Installation in Minneapolis, MN and the Surrounding Areas
A heated gutter system integrates self-regulating heat tape into your gutters and downspouts, protected by a gutter guard system. This tape warms the gutters during winter, preventing snow and ice buildup.
Why Heated Gutters?
In colder climates like Minneapolis, homeowners often worry about ice dams causing roof leaks and water damage. Ice buildup can also create dangerous icicles above walkways, adding hazards during winter. Heat tape provides peace of mind by warming gutters, preventing ice dams and reducing damage risks.
Heat Tape vs. Roof Heat Cable
Unlike roof heat cables, which lie on top of the roof, we install heat tape inside the gutters and downspouts, under the gutter guards. This method ensures efficient snow and ice melting while avoiding roof damage or warranty violations.
One of the best ways to add peace of mind and prevent ice dams is to have heat tape added to your gutters. Heat tape is a cable that heats up enough to melt snow and ice, but not enough to cause damage to your home.
Better Performance Inside Gutters
Our Weather-Ready heat tape is installed inside the gutters, so it heats the gutter system without affecting the shingles. The gutter guards trap heat, preventing ice buildup and ensuring only water flows through the system. For best results, the heat tape should be turned on just before snowfall.
The Importance of Gutter Guards
Gutter guards not only prevent debris from clogging your gutters but also protect the heat tape and ensure snow melts faster. This minimizes ice buildup, helping to avoid water damage and large icicles. Leaving heat tape exposed can lead to damage, but with gutter guards, the system works more efficiently and looks better.
Heat Tape works better inside a Gutter System
We use Weather-Ready heat tape that is only installed on the inside of the gutters and downspouts. This way the shingles aren’t affected, the heat tape is protected, and you’re only heating the gutters. This method not only works great, but it looks great. With the gutter guard on, it traps all the heat from the heat tape inside, allowing the whole gutter system to stay warm. Therefore, when snow on the roof starts to melt, it will hit a warm gutter guard and a warm gutter, preventing ice and snow from building up in your gutter system. This allows your gutters to only deal with water, not ice. It is essential that the heat cable be turned on just prior to snowfall for optimal results. Learn more about how heat cables work.
Heated cable for your gutters is a necessity in areas with very harsh winters, and heavy snowfall —helping to prevent the formation of ice dams and water from entering your home.
What Causes Ice Damming?
There are a variety of reasons behind this problem. The most common reasons for ice damming are:
- Radiant heat created from sunlight warming roof shingles
- Rapid temperature fluctuations from day to night
- Poor soffit ventilation
- Lack of a ridge vent on the peak of the roof
- Poorly insulated attic space
- Lack of a gutter protection system
The lower the pitch of a roof, the faster ice damming can occur. Many clients experience ice damming near bathroom vents and chimneys because of the changes in temperature.
Safety and Power Usage
We use Nuheat Weather-Ready heat tape, which is UV-resistant, fire-safe, and self-regulating. It adjusts its power based on the surrounding temperature, using less energy as the snow melts. For final installation, a licensed electrician may be required.
Heated Gutter Demonstration
We put together a video demonstration of how a heated gutter system works. We placed piles of snow on top of the gutters so that viewers can see them melt through a time-lapse video.
For best results, your heat cable should be turned on prior to the snowstorm… so that the heated gutter will melt the snowflakes as they land. Once there is an accumulation of ice or snow, it will melt but takes more time and energy.
Note: For this simulation, we started with a mound of snow already on the gutter; during an actual snowstorm the flakes will melt as they land on the heated gutter. Be sure to visit our many blogs on this topic.
Installation Details
The heat tape is installed inside the gutters and downspouts, ideally under a gutter guard to protect the system and improve efficiency. Heat tape can be plugged into an outdoor outlet, or, if necessary, an electrician can provide a custom power solution.
This streamlined installation method helps prevent ice dams and ensures your home is well-protected during harsh winters.