The Cable Cover Bracket (CCB) is the best friend a gutter heat cable can have.
We should start by saying this only applies to good quality self regulating heat cable. You should not use a CCB with the thin round constant wattage style of heat cable.
For any ice dam prevention system, heat tracing the gutters and downspouts are essential. Heat cable is routed through the bottom of the gutter and routed down each downspout or leader. This provides a clear melt path for water to drain off the roof. Regardless of what is done on the roof, the gutters ability to drain the water is required.
So, really then, the gutter is the starting point for any effective roof ice prevention system. Gutters control run off in the summer and direct where melt water goes in the winter. The gutter is often maligned or blamed for ice dams. The short answer is ice dams form on roofs with or without gutters. The long answer is the subject of another blog.
A good roof ice prevention system should always consider adding gutters on a project where no gutters exist or they have been removed.
Why heat transfer is so important
A common experience when using heat cables is a gutter that is overwhelmed by heavy snow. The inside of the gutter right around the cable is clear along with the downspout. But, over the top, the heat cable struggles with melting the snow. Sometimes ice forms and further insulates thecrop.jpg)
cable limiting its effectiveness.
Using a Cable Cover Bracket forces the heat cable to lay in the bottom of the gutter allowing for greater heat transfer. Heat transferred to the gutter is distributed over a wider area creating a larger melted area.
Simplified, effective and economical
The CCB can be used to heat long runs of gutter where only minor ice dams or icicles are a problem. The CCB can also be coupled with heated eave (EP-SO) and valley panels (VP-MW/SV) that are placed in the problem areas such as at an inside corner with a valley. This makes a whole system more affordable while maintaining an effective roof ice prevention system.
Specifics about the CCB:
- Heavy gauge aluminum for maximum heat transfer
- NEC compliant design
- Improves heat cable efficiency
- Provides a measure of protection to the heat cable
- Improves snow melting capacity
- Fits 13mm and 11mm self regulating heat cables
- Suitable for hard wire and plug in systems