Melting Ice Dams?

[HoneyDo]

Customer asked if I had a solution to stop ice growing over the gutters.
I remembered seeing a product where this wire is zig-zagged along the gutter line, through the gutter and downspout.

Has anyone worked with this and recommends a product?

[Diceman]

There are several brands of heaters for gutters and downspouts.
Google em.
I heard in a pinch and for temp solution put a womans stocking full of rock salt up there in the middle. It melts slowly and clears out the gutters, so they say.

[mbhydro]

There are also preformed pucks of ice melt you can buy to throw up on the roof above the ice dam to try and melt the ice.

Neighbor across the street has the heat trace lines on his overhang to prevent ice dams and it seems to work. We had a snowstorm last night and I can see the half diamond outline of the heat lines so they are keeping that area from freezing back into ice.

I guess it depends on how much your cost of electricity is regarding on how long you would want to leave them on after a storm.

Another option that I use, is a long pole roof rake. By pulling most of it off there is very little snow left to melt and freeze in the gutters.

[Trublshter]

About three weeks or so on local news stations roofing company reps were suggesting filling old stocking hose with ice melt crystals and putting them on the roof. I've actually driven by neighborhoods here in new england and seen them up on the roofs. Supposedly it will last quite a while.

[Trublshter]

OOooppps, Sorry Dice, did'nt see you posted about the stockings.

[heavymetaldad]

I have the roof heat trace. Use it only when the conditions require it. Works great.

[bja105]

I don't know about the heat trace lines, but a friend leaves his Christmas lights on, and they do melt the ice. Maybe he is just too lazy to take them down?

[chuckcrj]

1. Seal all penetrations from conditioned space to attic.
2. Foam perimeter of attic floor with two part foam.
3. Blow cellulose in to R 45.
4. Never see ice dams again.

Did it to my house for less than a grand. Cut my heating bills dramatically. Not a sign of ice this winter.

If the underside of the roof doesn't stay warm when its below freezing the snow won't melt and refreeze at the edge.