Time tested heat transfer concept

It all started a little more than twenty years ago - the idea of embedding self regulating heat cable in a heat transfer panel. The idea expanded to using an aluminum extrusion into which the heat cable was positioned and then covered by a painted aluminum sheet metal cover. Copper was also used as the cover. They worked very well. Gone was the need to zig zag heat cables along the roof line. Gone was the heat tape being overwhelmed by heavy snow and icicles forming right over them.

High cost of installation and operation

These extrusion systems were really over engineered, requiring three runs of 12 watt/ft (8 watt per foot at 50F) heat cable plus heat cable for the gutter and downspout. That was nearly 50 watts per foot to keep ice at bay. The system at the time was also proprietary. So the high cost of the product and operation meant only resorts and those with expensive homes could afford them. That all changed in 2013 when other companies could produce these extrusion based systems. This led to big improvements in design and function. It also led to more innovation.

New designs push the limits of energy efficiency and performance

One of the new design innovations was whether the base extrusion was necessary. Could just a cover be formed in such a way that the heat cable was embedded in it? Would this improve the performance? One theory is that the extrusion requires too much energy to heat it up and thus wastes energy. The company behind this theory goes to great pains to promote that concept. The only problem is that theory doesn't jibe well with the laws of thermodynamics. The aluminum extrusion is great at conduction - highly efficient. It also helps the heat cable to operate more efficiently by providing a consistent heat transfer path. By the way, the 'anti-extrusion' company uses thin steel for their heat transfer plate. It is really evident they don't understand the laws of thermodynamics.

So, is an extrusion really necessary? Not all the time. Under some circumstances the increased heat output of the extrusion based design is absolutely necessary. Some areas just get so much snow so quickly that more heat is needed. However, under most circumstances, a heat transfer panel made of thick gauge aluminum will do the trick. Our single cable eave panel has been thoroughly tested under harsh circumstances. 

True energy efficiency with tested performance

As you can see pictured here, this ice dam prevention system is having no trouble keeping up. A single self regulating heat cable (8 watts/foot at 50F) is all that is powering the heat transfer panel. Two separate snow falls 6 days apart totaling nearly 20 inches posed no problem. In fact, with temps in the low teens as 11 inches fell, the EP-SC had no problem keeping up. That is 66% less power at the roof edge and still great performance. The EP-SC is fabricated from .040 aluminum with a Kynar 500 industrial grade finish. No flimsy, heat transfer strangling thin steel sheet metal products here. (Oh, we could make them and try to convince you they work, but why would we?)

Contact us for more information on the EP-SC and other great products from Edge Melt Systems.