How Long Does Roof Heat Tape Last

12 jan 14 2018 heat tape as any electrical device will last reliably until the operational half life of the element is reached and that will depend on factor of use hours and condition and quality of the heat tape.

How long does roof heat tape last.

There are different brands of heat tape for gutters. Heat tape for wrapping around pipes is flat and it must be installed with one of its surfaces completely in contact with the pipe to do its job. Some i have used lasted 5 years and other have lasted 20 or more. Roof heat tape quality operating cost paying less will cost you more.

While this is not a lot of. That doesn t mean they won t keep the ice from forming they will it means they will last longer and are more efficient than some brands. Some are just better made than others. The type of heat tape used on roofs and gutters to prevent ice buildup is properly called heat cable.

Interesting thing the contractor did for this last home he put the heat tape on it was the long metal type he put a loop of the tape up through the skirting i can hold the loop in my fingers to see if it is warm without removing the skirting which has been nice to be able to check so quickly if the tape is functioning on very cold days. The heat cable you use on your roof which usually comes with clips to attach it to the shingles is rounded to expose more of its surface area to the surroundings. They will last a season or two and cost an arm and a leg to operate during that time. Replace heat tapes that are older than three years use only heat tapes certified to meet recognized voluntary fire safety standards such as those provided by underwriters laboratories ul the canadian standards association csa and the factory mutual research corporation fmrc.

Big box heat tape is disposable plain and simple. Of course they all do the same thing. If the tape is 6 feet long it will use 30 watts when heating the pipe. At fairbanks electrical prices that length of tape costs roughly 20 to run for four months.

This is a kit based around the popular and reliable speedtrace family of self regulating heating cables these cables are professional grade durable products and with good treatment we ve known them to last a decade or more in use.