Maxwell: Heres a good way to stop ice developing on roofs – The Sudbury Star

The aluminum along the edge of this roof extends up 5 inches under the shingles. A self-regulating heating cable snaps into the edge of the aluminum, delivering heat that extends upwards by conduction. Robert Maxwell photo

Q: What product have you recommended in the past to stop ice from developing on roofs? Several years ago you wrote about an option that doesnt use rooftop cables but I cant find the article now.

A: The product youre remembering is called Edge Cutter and its designed and made by a Canadian company called Heat-Line. The system is based on a 5-inch wide aluminum heating strip that slips underneath the shingles along the edge of the roof. An electric heating cable snaps into this aluminum strip and is completely hidden and protected. Plug in the system when rooftop ice begins to form and it will soon melt as heat from the aluminum warms the shingles above it. Ive installed this system personally and watched it work since 2017. Visit baileylineroad.com/ice-dam-solution/ for a video tour of an ice dam system I installed.

Drying Out a Damp House

Q: How can we reduce the moisture levels inside our rural vacation home? We use the place mostly during winter for skiing trips, but we also rent the house out a lot of the time, too. Is there some sort of small ventilation system that would make our place less moist during winter?

A: Yes, there are several solutions for you. While you could simply open windows a little and use exhaust fans more often, you cant count on diligent management of these things when people are renting your place. This is why a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) is a good idea. It will definitely solve your wintertime moisture problems. By exchanging outdoor air for indoor air, youll lower indoor humidity levels a lot. Aim for a 30 per cent to 4 per cent relative humidity during the coldest months, or whatever humidity level is necessary to reduce window condensation to almost nothing. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals are the typical trade workers that install HRVs. Cost is usually about $2,000 to $2,500. If you leave the unit running all the time on a low fan speed it will make the air fresher and drier without complicated operating procedures.

Roof eaves successfully cleared of ice by aluminum heating plates underneath the shingles. Steve Maxwell photojpg, SU

Tankless or Tank-Style Water Heater?

Q: Should I replace my tank-style water heater with a tankless model? Our current heater was new in 2006 and our insurance company demands we change it or theyll suspend coverage.

A: Changing your heater for a new one isnt a bad idea given its age, but youre wise to weigh the pros and cons of the two main options. I recommend tankless water heaters for some situations, but not all. On the plus side, tankless units do use somewhat less energy overall. Thats because they eliminate what is called standby losses as hot water is held in the internal tank, slowly losing heat while it sits there hot. Perhaps the best thing about tankless heaters is that theyre small and mount on a wall. On the downside, tankless heaters are not cheap. They cost $2,500 to $3,000 installed, and theyre more technically complicated than tank-style heaters.

Replacing your old tank-style heater with a new tank-style model would cost only about $1,000. Theres a lot less to go wrong with a tank-style heater than tankless. Also, tankless heaters usually require semi-annual or annual internal flushing of the heat exchanger with vinegar to remove mineral build-up.

Either way, if you dont have access to natural gas, you might be tempted to use propane to run your water heater. Few people realize that propane is sometimes more expensive than electricity considering how much heat you get per dollar. If youre paying 16 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity, then any propane price over about 89 cents per litre makes it more expensive than electric power.

Steve Maxwell is always looking for ways to make life more efficient. Visit Steve online at BaileyLineRoad.com for articles, videos and 30,000 people who get his famous Saturday morning email newsletter.

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Maxwell: Heres a good way to stop ice developing on roofs - The Sudbury Star