Product Overview
READ CAREFULLY
DESCRIPTION
Easy Heat SR Trace SR51J and SR52J heater cables provide
a solution for ice dams that can build up and damage build
-
ings and gutters. SR Trace is a self-regulating heating cable
that automatically varies its heat output with changes in
surrounding temperature. Because of this, SR Trace can
be overlapped without fear of overheating. Consult roofing
materials supplier for compatibility details.
The SR Trace roof & gutter deicing cable is available with an
average density of 8 watts per foot when deicing; 5 watts
per foot at 50°F. At other temperatures, of course, the cable
output will be considerably different.
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
Roof & Gutter De-icing Self-Regulating Heating Cable
Application/Specification Guide
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
As snow accumulates on a roof in winter, inadequate
ceiling insulation and/or roof venting can allow the roof
surface above heated areas of the building to get warm
enough to melt some of the snow on the roof surface, even
on cold winter days.
This water will then flow down the roof and may
accumulate and freeze in gutters, possibly even overflowing
them and forming long icicles.
(Icicles are usually a symptom of this “warm roof” problem.
It can be expected that roofs with icicles will eventually
form ice dams which may result in water leaking into the
building.)
Left unchecked, this ice build-up (icing) can result in
significant stress on the gutter, often leading to mechanical
failure of the gutter.
It is also probable that the roof area above the overhang will
be cold, since it is not above a heated area of the building.
This can result in the re-freezing of the melt-water, as it
approaches the roof edge, forming a layer of ice.
Continued freezing of this water causes the layer of ice to
build up in thickness and eventually can become several
inches thick. This results in water “ponding”, at the warm/
cold transition point of the roof, and seeping between the
shingles.
Once water gets under the shingles, it can leak through
the roof sheathing, at nail holes or other roof penetrations,
and down inside the building walls, ceiling, etc. It is also
possible for such water to track along ceiling beams and
eventually leak into the building interior at light fixtures or
through the ceiling finish at a point some distance away from
the location of the ice dam.
By applying heating cable on the roof edge above the
overhang, and in the gutter and downspouts, water melting
on the roof will always have a clear path to the ground.
40250-605 Rev 8 © 2007 Easy Heat
Nominal Power Output
-25 0 25 50 75 100
Temperature
o
F
WATTS/FT
10
8
6
4
2
0
#18 AWG
TINNED COP-
PER BUS
WIRES
FLAME RETARDANT
TPE JACKET
MODIFIED POLYOLE
-
FIN OVER
JACKET
COPPER
GROUND BRAID
SELF-REGULATING
CONDUCTIVE CORE