Why Install Snow Breaks and Heat Cables Now?
Summer Roof Prep: Ensuring Winter Safety and Efficiency with Snow Breaks and Heat Cables

In summer, the abundance of sun and warmth makes it easy for a homeowner to forget the impending snow and freezing temperatures that will arrive in the winter. That said, the summer months are the perfect months to ensure your home is prepared for winter; particularly, your roof. Is your roof ready to withstand the snowfall? Learn more below!
Snow Breaks:
A snow break, A.K.A. a snow stop or a snow guard, is a device installed on your roof that allows snow and ice to melt off slowly, and cohesively, rather than in a sudden roof avalanche. They are often attached in a pattern, usually to the flat part of a metal roof panel, or clamped to the seam.
Benefits of Snow Breaks:
Protection – falling snow/roof avalanches can have severe consequences and can even be deadly. It is best to protect the “danger zones” of your home – in other words, the areas with the most foot-traffic (i.e. entrance/exit doors) – by installing snow breaks. Moreover, snow falling off the roof can be so heavy that it damages the property around your home such as a vehicle, patio furniture, equipment, etc. As mentioned, snow breaks can help you avoid this damage by diverting the snowfall from your property and breaking it up into manageable, lighter pieces of snowfall.
Reduce Roof Maintenance & Save Money:
Heavy snowfall causes a lot of needless wear and tear on a metal or slippery roof. In turn, this can lead to unplanned roof and rain gutter maintenance (and unexpected bills).
Heat Cables:
Another option to help prep your roof for heavy snowfall is heat cables. Heat cables serve to heat and melt away any major snow or ice/ice dams surrounding the cables on your rooftop area. As the cables heat up, they allow snow and ice to travel down and drain properly into your rain gutters, and into the downspout.
Ice dams (or, icicles along the roofline) are formed when temperatures are at snow-melting levels (right around the freezing point). Ice buildup is not going to be as problematic during severe cold because the ice will remain intact; therefore, when melting occurs and the temperature is a bit warmer, heat cables will be most effective. Heat cables are designed to work best when the ice is at its melting point; any accumulation of melted ice is then more easily removed from the roof and rain gutters.
Benefits of Heat Cables:
Save Money – While your electric bills may increase, you will see savings by keeping your roof free from ice dams. If ice dams are continually occurring on your roof, you risk damage to your roof and potential damage to the interior of your home as well. Despite the initial cost, heat cables will save your roof from the constant presence of ice buildup. Things to check before going to heat cables is your attic insulation, to be sure it’s sufficient.
Installing rain gutters is a specialized service. The crew at Rainman Seamless Rain Guttersis here for you. Founded in 1992, our family-owned business employs a team of tradesmen and experts who offer over 100 years of combined and accumulated experience, industry-knowledge, and local support. As lifelong residents of the Spokane area, we take pride in the service and products our team provides. If you have questions about gutters, we have the answers. Contact Rainman Seamless Rain Guttersfor more information.









