In winter, icing of the roof often occurs and melt water, freezing, forms hanging icicles. But this not only threatens accidents; water frozen in the gutter can destroy it, because water expands when it freezes. Don't be surprised if you see your drainage system burst on a frosty winter morning. In this case, it is necessary to begin repairs, and this, in turn, will lead to unforeseen expenses.
Until it starts to get cold winter period, care should be taken to ensure that such troubles do not occur. But what can be done to prevent the liquid in drainage systems from freezing and icicles from forming? We will have to organize heating of the drain. This will not only keep it safe, but will also protect you and your household from accidents. A heating cable for the drain will help you with this. Let's figure out which cable for the drain is better to choose, and how you can heat the entire system with your own hands.
Where does the ice on the roof come from, because in winter it doesn’t rain, and no one pours water on the roof from above. Two factors influence the formation of ice.
Temperature difference between day and night. This factor is especially influential in early spring, when the snow is exposed to solar heat during the day and melts on the roof, gradually flowing into the water drainage system. As night falls, the air temperature changes, reaching below zero, as a result of which the melt water begins to freeze. This is how ice forms in gutters and pipes. The same applies to the roof overhang when icicles hang from it. Please note that the entire drain structure is not designed to support additional weight. Even if it does not burst in a certain part due to expansion, it can easily break, unable to withstand the weight of the ice. In this case, you will have to completely change it.
Effect " warm roof» . Developers often do mansard roofs or warm attics. If the roof is poorly insulated, heat loss may occur. It turns out that even in winter, at sub-zero temperatures, the snow begins to melt, since the room is heated and, albeit slightly, the roofing itself heats up. Well, then the scheme is the same as in the first case: flowing down, the water cools and then freezes again. The consequences are the same. But in this case, installing a heating cable in the drainage pipes will not eliminate the problem itself, but only the consequences: the formation of ice and icicles. It is better, of course, to solve the problem itself, and not the symptom, by insulating the roof.
To prevent the roof from heating up in winter, professionals advise doing the so-called cold roof when the ventilated attic is not heated inside. One more point - to do it correctly roofing pie, where the insulation is selected with sufficient thickness and there is a ventilation gap. However, this is not a 100% guarantee that the problem will be completely resolved. For reliability, it is better to heat the drainage system. But the question arises, which cable is better to choose?
To prevent the formation of ice on eaves and in the drainage system, heating cables are used, which are becoming increasingly popular these days. But how to choose a cable so that it effectively performs its task and is economical? To begin with, it should be noted that there are two types of heating cables on the market that are suitable for heating wastewater:
When choosing a heating cable, you must take into account the operating features, since it will be influenced by the external environment and negative temperatures. Please ensure that the outer polymer shell of the product retains its strength and tightness. different conditions. Cables must have the following performance characteristics:
Any of the two types of cables can effectively heat drains and roof overhangs, because each of them has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. To make the task of choosing a product easier, let's look at these features.
The principle of operation of resistive models is that when it is turned on, a transformation occurs electrical energy to thermal. The main difference between such cables is their affordable cost and reliability during operation. The thing is that the cable design is quite simple. There are single-core models with lower power and double-core models with higher power. Most often these cores are made of copper wire. However, so that during operation it does not cause the occurrence of electromagnetic radiation, a special shielding shell is provided. It also performs the function of grounding the wire. To protect the wires from external influence and prevent short circuit, an outer polymer shell is provided.
Thanks to the strength electric current, which runs through the wires, the surface of the cable heats up, as a result of which it gives off heat to the external environment, in our case, to the gutter and roof overhang for melting snow. Let's also look at some features of the operation of these heating elements:
These cables have some significant disadvantages. One of them - high consumption electrical energy, which will affect your bills public utilities. To ensure good heating, you need models whose rated power ranges from 100 to 180 W/m.p. Another significant disadvantage is that the conditions in which different parts of the cable may be different. Some section may be in the air, another under foliage, a third under snow, etc. But the catch is that the heat transfer of the entire cable is the same. Therefore, to melt the snow you need a certain amount of heat, which will be wasted in other areas that do not require such heating. It turns out that when heating the roof and gutters, you incur some losses and the heating is ineffective.
An alternative is a variety of such cables with zonal heating of the cable. Due to the design features, the cable is heated not over its entire surface, but only in some areas. Another solution to the problem is to choose cables with different resistances.
Note! average price of such products mainly depends on their configuration and power. For example, the most common cable without additional equipment can be bought for 100 rubles per 1 m.p.
A self-regulating cable is a completely different matter. This option is much more economical and profitable. It is ideal for heating gutters, since the main advantage of the cable is that it consumes less energy and regulates the current power itself, depending on the external temperature. It also consists of two conductive wires that create a resistive effect. Only these cores are connected by a special matrix, which reacts to temperature fluctuations. The lower the temperature, the more the cable heats up, and vice versa.
But, there is one significant nuance that concerns heating the drain with this cable. The main disadvantage of such cables is their high cost, so installing such a cable for gutters is very expensive. Why? Because in winter the external temperature will always fall below zero. It turns out that the cable will operate around the clock at its maximum power, and there will be practically no possibility of self-regulation. As a result, in terms of functionality, the effectiveness of such a cable is reduced to that of a traditional resistive cable, but you only paid several times more for it.
However, this can be corrected if you additionally purchase a control unit for the incoming current. If you connect such a unit with a temperature sensor, then you can adjust the heating power yourself, depending on the outside air temperature, which gives you special opportunities.
Features of self-regulating cable:
Taking into account all the factors given above, you can decide which heating cables to give preference to. It all depends on you and your desire. Professionals recommend combining self-regulating cables with resistive ones, then the efficiency and quality of heating will increase. For example, in the roofing part you can use resistive cables, which have a constant temperature and effectively heat the overhang from snow and ice. But self-regulating cables can be installed in a drainage system in gutters.
Note! If we talk about calculating the power and energy consumption of cables, then for resistive models the best option are products whose power is 18–22 W/m.p. When choosing self-regulating cables, pay attention to models 15–30 W/m.p.
Note! Keep in mind that if your drainage system is made of polymer materials, then the maximum power of such cables is 17 W/mp. and no more. Otherwise, there is a risk that the drain may be damaged by excessive temperature.
You should know that in addition to the heating cables themselves, the heating system also includes other components:
The thing is that when a conventional thermostat is used in a cable system, you will have to monitor the situation: if there is precipitation on the roof, start the system manually, and if there is no precipitation, turn it off. Thanks to the weather station, the entire work process can be easily automated and time delays for turning off the device can be set. But still, if we talk about price, it is more profitable to buy thermostats and do all the work manually. Now let's find out how to install such a system yourself.
First, let's look at which zones you need to lay heating cables for the water drainage system. These are mainly places where melt water drains and areas where ice forms. What are these places:
Now let's take a closer look at how to install a cable heating system for drainage systems. You must install the system in accordance with the following rules:
That's all, now your gutter and roof overhang are heated, which will allow you to solve the problem of water freezing in these places, as well as the formation of snow and icicles. Be careful when performing any work at height. Use a sturdy stepladder or scaffolding.
How to install a CTK cable for heating a drain, see the video:
The problem of icing occurs when melt water from the roof flowing down gutters and pipes freezes due to a decrease in temperature environment or temperature differences on the roof and in the drain (if the roof is not insufficiently insulated). Ice builds up layer by layer on the drain. The icing process occurs quite quickly, and the melting of the formed ice takes many times longer. Therefore, ice must be removed manually or using a system that prevents icing of gutters.
Icing of gutters causes many problems:
What does an assembled gutter heating system look like?:
The heating cable is installed along the entire length of gutters and pipes. The drains are heated using several strands of heating cable. The number of cable threads is calculated based on the following data: the material from which the pipes and gutters are made (plastic or metal), their size and shape. In addition to the specified data, constructive and technical features object, as well as climatic zone. All specified data allows the designer to correctly calculate the required amount of cable and installation interval.
If the system is designed wrong, then with high probability one of the following problems will arise: 1) the system does not compensate for heat loss and does not cope with the heating task, gutters freeze, pipes become clogged; 2) the system has excess power, the gutters are heated, but the energy consumption is too high, the system is expensive to operate. In addition to excessive consumption, there is a possibility of plastic gutters and pipes overheating and deforming.
Devices for installing the heating cable in the gutter:
Devices for installing a heating cable in a drainpipe:
Above were the data necessary to calculate the number of threads of the heating cable. In addition, the power of the heating cable is selected. The table provides current information on the power required to heat gutters and drainage pipes with reference to climatic conditions St. Petersburg and Leningrad region.
To heat gutters, we use heating cables from Elektra - a proven European manufacturer that gives 10 year warranty for resistive heating cable:
For some objects, at the request of the customer, calculations can be performed using a self-regulating heating cable from Elektra:
We are official representative Elektra plant in Russia. By contacting us, you are guaranteed to receive genuine products and a favorable price offer for heating cables, thermostats and accessories. We specialize in cable heating systems; our design department will prepare a competent solution for heating a drainage system of any complexity. If necessary, heating can include the roof, canopies and eaves of the building. Installation work carried out by qualified specialists great experience roofing works concerning anti-icing systems.
Once the system is put into operation, in most cases there is no need to carry out additional maintenance activities. It is recommended to carry out system diagnostics before the start of the season (which is included in system diagnostics).
Diagnostics finished system . Our company’s specialists can diagnose the system and identify the cause of the problem. Problems are identified during the inspection of system elements using specialized equipment.
Why do you need a drain? The drainage system is installed on the roof of the house for the organized removal of moisture from its surface.
Water from rain or melted snow flows through gutters to a designated area without spreading over the entire roof.
Usually the system is designed in such a way that the water flow is directed directly to sewer pit or drainage system.
Water, flowing through the gutters, enters the drainage funnel, and then rushes through the drainpipe into the sewer in the courtyard of the house.
Gutters prevent water from getting under the roof and flooding the foundation of the building. In the absence of drainage devices, the ceilings and walls in the room begin to become damp, and mold starts to grow.
The house is in danger of slowly collapsing. Equip the roofing surface of your home with drainage centralized system- means avoiding many problems.
In winter and the first months of spring, when the temperature outside is below zero, alternating with above-zero, the work of drains is complicated by the appearance of ice.
Frozen water in the gutters prevents the melted snow from draining away. Icicles appear, and with them there is a danger of injury and damage. People could be injured if a huge mass of ice breaks away from the cornice. Cars parked near the house are at risk. And the drain gutters and pipes themselves may become unusable.
There are two main reasons:
To get rid of this problem once and for all and protect the drainage system, it is necessary to install heating for the drainpipes. There are a number of anti-icing systems.
Causes of ice formation
Those that hold back the snow from falling off roofing and heat cables that serve to heat gutters. Their main function– free the roof from the ice crust and prevent dangerous icicles from forming.
Modern storm drainage systems must be equipped with an anti-icing system for the roof surface. What is she like?
Building heating scheme
Any anti-icing system requires the presence of a heating cable for heating gutters and downpipes, which provides heat to the gutters and prevents water from crystallizing into ice.
There are two types of electrical cable:
Self-heating cable consists of multilayer insulating material. In the cable cavity there are two heating cores that are connected to an electrical source.
NOTE!
Current resistance and power are constant. It heats up to a certain fixed temperature, which cannot be adjusted.
This type is a conventional cable in a multilayer winding, which consists of:
The principle of operation is similar to that of an ordinary household heating element.
Such a heating wire has a constant resistance and power, unregulated by the heating temperature.
In demand, having the following positive qualities:
This type of cable heats up equally along its entire length, which reduces its efficiency. To defrost severe ice conditions, a lot of power is required. The cable may overheat and break.
Resistive type
Using a self-heating cable with increased power is irrational from the point of view of energy consumption. If the power is reduced, then ice areas in the gutters and on the roof remain unfrozen.
The flexibility of the cable allows it to be placed in any configuration. If bending waves are made more often and placed one to the other at a short distance, the heating power can be increased. But if the core overheats, the damaged cable cannot be repaired.
To prevent this, you need to clean the roof from dirt and fallen leaves more often. Its short service life and high power consumption make it unpopular. And it is used more often on roofs with a large area.
The manufacturing technology of a self-regulating cable is more complex.
The heating capabilities depend on the matrix, the action of which is to spontaneously regulate heating depending on the air temperature.
The matrix is located between two conductor cores.
When there is a large volume of snow and heavy icing of the roof, the power increases; when it warms up, the heating decreases.
This functional feature allows you to save on energy consumption. When an ice crust forms, the heating element installed in the gutters automatically turns on.
When not needed, it retains its linear power. Always works in optimal mode. Self-regulation of heating, leading to savings, is the most important advantage of the heating wire.
Especially if the weather in winter is unstable and changes frequently temperature regime. If part of the cable burns out, it is cut out and the working parts are reconnected. There is no need to install a temperature sensor or an on/off system.
Self-regulating heating cable
The thermal cable consists of an external protective sheath and internal thermoplastic insulation. At the end there is the semiconducting matrix itself and conductive cores. This is a special technology for self-regulation of heating power.
The heating cable for the drain has following features: resistive does not respond to the temperature of the external environment, self-regulating, in turn, changes the degree of heating depending on the ambient temperature, which allows you to regulate energy consumption without switching on and off.
Both types of heating cable have their pros and cons. As for the cost, then a resistive conductor will cost you less. However, the self-regulating one is convenient to use due to its properties to maintain optimal temperature, and do economical consumption electricity.
When starting to install a heating system, you should have a clear understanding of:
You can contact specialists. Only a properly installed system will not cause failures during further operation.
Sometimes it is advisable to install both types of cable. On the roof itself it is resistive, in the gutters it is self-regulating. The heating cable must be securely fastened.
For this they prepare:
CAREFULLY!
Do not make a hole in the roof to attach the cable.. This can cause moisture to leak into the house.
The roof surface where the cable is installed must be flat, without sharp corners so as not to damage the material. When purchasing a cable, pay attention to the service life. The longer it is, the better.
Cable fixings
It is advisable to choose one manufacturer of all the necessary components of the anti-rainfall system.
Before purchasing a roof heating system, carefully examine the roof. This is done in order to correctly calculate the power of the conductor.
If the roof does not have thermal insulation coating, then the minimum power per one linear meter should be 40-50 W. If isolated, then 25-30 W is enough.
So, how to calculate the heating cable for a drain? To do this, measure the horizontal length of the gutters and multiply by two. Measure the vertical drains and add this figure to the first. Next, multiply the result by the cable power.
The power of the cable is directly dependent on the material from which the gutters are made. For plastic - 20 W per linear meter, for metal - 25 W, for wood - 18 W.
Cable cross-section
Heating material is installed in the following sequence:
Heating system design
Installation of heating cable
Serpentine laying
Proper installation of the heating system, following the safety and protection instructions will solve many problems with roof icing, protecting the drainage system from ruptures, the house from flooding, and people from injury.
How to connect a heating cable with your own hands:
In contact with
Heating of roofs and gutters necessary for houses located in climatic zones where significant amounts of snow fall. Under its weight, the roof structure may collapse and drainage system. This problem is especially relevant for private houses that have a heated room under the roof. This design leads to active melting of snow in the ridge area and the formation of ice build-ups on the edge of the roof and in the storm drain system.
A similar picture is observed in spring, when daily temperature fluctuations reach tens of degrees. During the day, the snow cap on the roof melts, and in the evening, before it reaches the storm drain, it freezes. This situation is extremely dangerous both for the structure itself and for people who can be seriously injured from falling large pieces of ice. To prevent destruction roofs and gutters, extend their service life and maintain a presentable appearance, used gutter heating system.
Principle of operation heating systems drainage is based on the use of thermal energy, which is generated when electricity passes through a flexible cable that has a certain resistance. Heating is installed in places where there is the slightest possibility of ice formation. As a rule, heating elements are laid on the roof, along gutters and risers. Heat helps melt snow and prevents water in the drainage system from freezing when the temperature drops below 0°C.
Heating cable for roofs and gutters used to perform the following tasks:
Electric heating of gutters using modern control equipment makes it possible to completely eliminate human participation in the operation of systems. Right choice devices, its proper installation and configuration contribute to the fact that heating of gutters and drains, roofing and drainage will be carried out efficiently and economically. Considering the cost of electricity, this factor should be taken into account.
Heating of drainpipes is quite complex technical process. As a rule, installation of the system is carried out by specialists with the necessary knowledge and experience. But if you show patience, accuracy and a thoughtful approach, then you can arrange the heat supply to the drain and roof on our own. To do this you need to familiarize yourself with common device heating systems and with the rules for its installation.
Standard system heating of gutters consists of the following devices and mechanisms:
The equipment for heating gutters may vary. Its volume and characteristics of the devices depend on the area that needs to be covered, and required power. In addition, the amount of automation may vary due to the choice of type of heating elements.
Cable for heating gutters is the basis of the anti-icing system. The efficiency of the installed system largely depends on the correctness of its choice.
During installation, use heating cable for drain of such a type:
When arranging houses, it is recommended to use both types of wire. This way you can achieve high-quality results without significant overpayments. Inexpensive heating resistive cable used to cover large areas under the roof. As for self-regulating elements, they are attached to the most difficult sections of drains.
Efficiency heating systems directly depends on high-quality design and correctly selected equipment. You shouldn't skimp on it. Even the most modern and expensive devices cost an order of magnitude less than roof and drainage repairs.
Design is carried out in the following sequence:
When the heating zones are determined and the choice of devices, equipment and fixtures is made, the property that will be required for installation is calculated. The result of planning is project documentation, which takes into account all current building codes and safety measures.
You can install the roof yourself if you have basic knowledge of electrical engineering. A person who can read electrical circuits, can cope with installation without much difficulty heating systems .
Its installation is carried out as follows:
After all instruments and devices are connected and tested, they are configured.
The heating system requires periodic maintenance. This consists of regularly inspecting the heating cable and installation boxes. Detected debris is immediately removed. Loose aluminum strips are replaced with new ones. Before the start of winter, the system is required to be tested for performance. For the purposes of prevention and safety, worn sections of heating elements are renewed. If you follow these rules, then roof and gutter heating system will perform its tasks efficiently for several decades.
Roof leaks in the spring are associated with icing of gutters in 90% of cases. Ice-clogged gutters and gutters during a thaw block the flow of water from the roof. The consequences are roof leaks, destruction of facades on the upper floors of buildings.
The greatest danger of leakage is for figured roofs with internal corners, turrets, attics and other decorative architectural elements.
Installing heated roofs, gutters and gutters solves this problem and increases the life of roofs, downspout mounting brackets and gutters, reducing the mechanical stress caused by ice dams.
Cable heating is applicable for the following engineering areas:
| Type of work | Gable | Hip (1.2) | Difficult (1.5) | Unit |
| Installing a heating cable at temp. > 10°С | 200 rub. | linear m. | ||
| Installing a heating cable at temp. From 2 to 10°C | 250 rub. | linear m. | ||
| Installing a heating cable at temp. 2<°С | 300 rub. | linear m. | ||
| Installation of the power cable | 200 rub. | linear m. | ||
| Tightening power cables into corrugations and pipes | 50 rub. | linear m. | ||
| Drilling holes in walls F30 | 1000 rub. | PC. | ||
| Assembly of panels (for 1 element on a DIN rail) | 500 rub. | PC. | ||
| Shield installation | 1000 rub. | PC. | ||
| Connecting the panel | 2000 rub. | PC. | ||
| Installing a temperature sensor on the roof | 500 rub. | PC. | ||
| Installing a Temperature Sensor in a Gutter | 500 rub. | PC. | ||
| Installation of a drainage system | 450 rub. | linear m. | ||
The installation kit itself is a simple structure consisting of the following elements:
These are the main elements. In addition to them, fasteners, power cables and other components are used for installation and connection to the network.
When installing cable drain heating, it is important that the cable is located exactly in the place where the water flows. The difficulty of installation lies in the fact that additional holes are not allowed in drainpipes, so the cable is suspended on a cable.
The linear power of heating cables in gutters should be 60-70 W/m (minimum 20-30 W/m). If the gutter is wider than 150 mm, then for normal weather conditions the calculated power is 200 W/m2.
In the case of a cold roof, it is sufficient to lay the cable only in drainage system.
If the roof is warm, then the cable is additionally installed in loops along the edge of the roof 0.3 - 0.5 m wide, with a power density of about 200 - 250 W/m2.
