Calculate the length & cost of a Roof heat cable such as EasyHeat / HEATIT.
Roof heat cable lengths are based on the roof eave, gable depth, and installation pattern.
Using a roof de-icing cable is a simple way to prevent ice dams on your roof, and to melt ice in your gutters.
De-icing cables can be turned ON & OFF automatically, using an ice sensor / controller, so that you don’t even need to worry about forgetting to turn it on/off.
How To Use Roof Heating Cable Calculator
Once you enter your roof overhang length & depth, length of valleys and gutters (these are optional), simply click calculate, and you will get results for total cable length.
You will also get the best combination of different products (length of each cable).
Moreover, you will get a total materials list (including clips) and the total cost of all materials.
What’s not included:
Since most homes don’t have an electrical outlet directly under their roof overhang, you need to add the distance from the nearest power source (120V AC).
Also we do not include Automatic Ice Sensor, which can control when to turn your de-icing cables ON & OFF.
Finally, you may need a splice kit.
However we feel that it’s very expensive, and you can do the same job with Radiant Tee & Splice Kit (UL Listed), for 1/3 the cost (currently around $26), or any generic high quality heat shrink tubing & butt splice connectors.
NOTE: Installing splice connectors requires electrical work, and should be done by professionals only. We are not responsible for any damage or harm!
Here is a great video on how to install a Splice Kit:
If you plan to splice your ice cables, be very careful and follow the instructions in the video.
Better yet, hire an electrician.
The video above is not from EasyHeat, but should work for (almost) any brand of ice melting cable, as their internal structure is very similar among different brands.
Finally, we recommend having a power outlet installed under the roof overhang, or near the end of your roof overhang, so that you can easily plug in your controller and/or ice melting cables.
Other Ways to Prevent Ice Dams On Your Roof
Ice dams form when snow on your roof melts, and drips down the slope. On the edge of the roof it freezes, as this part of the roof is not “heated”.
As more and more snow melts, ice dams become larger. Then ice starts “growing up the roof slope”, under the roof shingles.
Then it melts and drips into your attic, down the exterior walls, and onto your ceilings. If you have cellulose or fiberglass insulation, it will get wet, and lose its insulating properties.
To prevent ice dams you need to insulate your attic and ventilate your roof. To prevent damages from ice dams, you need to install some sort of roof protection (see below) that will stop water from leaking inside your home. First you need to stop ice dams, or your insulation will get wet!
Most Common Reasons For Ice Dams
- Poor Attic / Ceiling Insulation which allows heat from your living space to go into the attic, and melt the snow on your roof. We recommend insulating your attic / ceilings.
- Poor Roof Ventilation – Properly vented roofs, will remove heat before it can melt snow. So install ridge & soffit vents. You should still insulate the attic, to minimize heat loss – this will save you hundreds of dollars each year on heating costs!
- Install Ice Belts OR Ice & Water Shield OR a Metal Roof – these 3 options can prevent the damages caused by ice dams (wet insulation, rotted walls and roof sheathing, wet ceilings, etc). The cheapest and most effective way to prevent ice dam damages, is to install an “Ice Belt” or metal panels that are 3′ long, running across your roof edge.
Second and most effective method is to install a metal roof – this will eliminate ice dams all together, but will not prevent heat loss.
Finally ice & water shield (which is required by the building code during roof installation, can in 85% of the cases prevent ice dams damage, but not 100%, as it will have 100s of holes from roof shingle nails.
Bottom line – it’s best to at least install ice barrier (to prevent water damage) and then insulate your attic. Ideal solution is attic insulation + metal roof.
