A high-quality heating system for the roof and gutters will protect the roof from the dangerous accumulation of snow and ice.
Content
Why do we need a roof heating installation?
Cozy cottage on the background of winter snowdrifts. Snow sparkles on its roof, icicles shine with diamonds in the sun. This image is good for pastoral landscapes, but in life, the presence of snow and ice on the roof is not so pleasant.
Under the weight of the snow cover, the roof begins to sag, the roof covering deforms and slides, leaks appear. And icicles have an insidious habit of diving down when warming, which is a serious threat to the health, and even the lives of people passing by.
That is why funds for snowmelt and protection of gutters from freezing are becoming increasingly popular.
Roof heating: what options can I choose?
Nowadays, heating cables are mainly used to melt snow on the roof. Cables with good insulation are reliable and do an excellent job in conditions of excessive rainfall, temperature drops and exposure to humidity.
The heating cable for the roof can be resistive, self-regulating or zonal. To debug the system, it is necessary to use a thermostat and temperature and humidity sensors. It is advisable to choose a thermostat and cable from one manufacturer.
There is no standard anti-icing system. Each project is developed taking into account:
- heating area;
- type of roofing;
- average rainfall;
- and other factors.
Some companies involved in the installation of heating of the roof and gutters provide free advice and preliminary calculations.
Mounting Features
Heating systems are installed on or under the roofing. When heating gutters, a heating cable is mounted inside the pipe. This eliminates the risk of freezing and deformation of gutters and creates the possibility of free outflow of melt water. A temperature regulator must be attached to the cable roof heating system - this device changes the degree of heating depending on weather conditions.
By changing the thermostat settings, you can provide:
- gradual melting of snow and ice with the removal of water through gutters;
- smooth and controlled descent of snow from the roof.
Typically, a system for external heating is installed:
- along the perimeter of the attic windows;
- along the ledge;
- on the roofing;
- in gutters, valleys;
- in the gutters.
Mounting is carried out in a sinusoid, that is, not in straight lines, but in smooth bends. An important point is the correct choice of fasteners that will not damage the cable and roof.
Installation of heating cable on the roof: price
Self-installation of an anti-icing system is a risky undertaking. If you decide to do the design and installation yourself, you need to take measurements of the roof, understand the nuances of working with a specific type of roofing material and study offers from different brands.
With self-installation there is a risk:
- unsuccessful choice of a heating element;
- damage to the roofing;
- the use of excess heating cable;
- damage to the roof, which is fraught with leaks;
- improper cable management.
Professional installation of a heating system for roofs and gutters is usually cheaper in the warm season due to special summer rates for this type of work.In the summer in the central part of Russia you can find a professional team that will lay a heating cable for 200-230 rubles / meter. As a rule, it helps to save contact with a company that not only carries out installation work, but also sells heating cable. Such organizations value reputation more and are better versed in the installation features, while making good discounts in case of large purchases.
There are three price categories for roof cables:
- economy class - cables made in China;
- typical - cable systems from South Korea, Russia, Europe;
- Elite - heating cables from Japan and the USA.
Typical and elite systems are considered more reliable, among them there are solutions that are attractive at a price among economical options. For example, South Korean self-regulating roofing cables Heatus differ not only in budget cost, but also in consistently high quality. These products cost an average of 315 rubles per linear meter and work well in the conditions of the Russian winter. The most durable anti-icing systems are obtained on the basis of a zone cable in a heat-resistant sheath. On it is the manufacturer of the Heatus trademark (Young Chang Global factory), as they say, ate the dog.
Fig. 3 South Korean zonal cable for heating the roof
With the right choice of cable products and proper installation, the roof heating system can work for years, reliably protecting the roof from subsidence and leaks.
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