It may be the right amount of heat tape, and draw a lot of current simply because it's long. You need a lot of it, because it doesn't do much -- each length of "tape" will melt a small channel in its immediate vicinity. If it's up and turned on BEFORE the icedam weather, then that's enough to keep a dam from forming. If you turn it on AFTER the dam has formed, then it can reduce the ill effects, but not eliminate them. At least, that's my understanding.
So, it might make sense to turn that one that's installed on now, if you are seeing a possible dam in it's gutter.
I have a roof rake, and will post a picture of it later, at mhb.wiglaf.org/TEMP/roofrake/ It's not there yet.
Mine is actually closer to 17' than to 25', nor that I've gotten it out and looked at it. It works on my first floor eaves. I have to stand about 10' from the house to use it, as I recall, and it helps to be able to move back and forth closer and further from the house.
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heat tapes and roof rakes
Date: 2007-12-22 08:55 pm (UTC)So, it might make sense to turn that one that's installed on now, if you are seeing a possible dam in it's gutter.
I have a roof rake, and will post a picture of it later, at mhb.wiglaf.org/TEMP/roofrake/ It's not there yet.
Mine is actually closer to 17' than to 25', nor that I've gotten it out and looked at it. It works on my first floor eaves. I have to stand about 10' from the house to use it, as I recall, and it helps to be able to move back and forth closer and further from the house.