Welcome to the final entry in my three-part series on ice dam prevention and heat cables. In part one, Should you install heat cables to prevent ice dams?, I discussed the most common solutions ...

Heat cable has a dubious reputation in the ice dam prevention world. It's a topic few understand in-depth, both in terms of what it is and how to install it properly. In this three-part series, I will ...

Heat cables look like heavy-duty extension cords. But instead of delivering electricity from one end to the other, they break a cardinal rule of wiring and bleed heat through the insulating cover.

Question: I just read a previous article you wrote in response to a question about using roof-heating cables. Ice damming has not been a problem for us and I have no interest in putting these cables ...

*No charge for 4 weeks then billed as $19 every four weeks (new subscribers and qualified returning subscribers only). Cancel anytime. Question: I’ve read your previous article on why you shouldn’t ...

… but our independent journalism isn’t free to produce. Help us keep it this way with a tax-deductible donation today. Heat cable, heat tape, heat wire…they’re different names that mean the same thing ...