Heated cables... mixed bag in my experience. They can help with ice dams if you install them right, but they’re not a magic fix.
I tried heated cables last winter—honestly, not worth it for me. My attic’s insulation isn’t great, so I ended up with bigger icicles and a spike in my electric bill. Anyone actually get good results after improving attic airflow first? I’m debating if it’s worth the hassle to re-do the venting or just patch things up for another season.
- Heated cables are like putting a bandaid on a leaky dam, in my experience.
- Tried them on my old asphalt roof—just got higher bills and still had to dodge icicles.
- Upgrading attic airflow (added ridge vents last fall) actually cut the ice dam drama way down for me.
- Patch jobs never lasted through spring melt... but maybe that’s just my luck?
- Anyone else notice better results with green/reflective roofing? Or is that just marketing fluff?
