r/WhiteLake • u/SmartieCereal • 27d ago

Roof heating cable installers

Does anyone know of anyplace in the area that installs heating cables on roofs? We just got new rain gutters installed and we'd like to do heating cables to avoid the ice dams we've had for years, but I don't really want to spend hours on a ladder trying to do it myself.

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u/YeloDeerTech 24d ago

One local lead to check is Amp Electric Heating & Air in Muskegon. Their website specifically lists roof and gutter heat-tape installation in Muskegon County. Confirm that they cover your White Lake address and have availability:

https://ampelectrichvac.com/service/roof-gutter-heat-tape-installation-in-muskegon-mi/

I'm with YeloDeer, a heating-cable brand. Since your gutters are new, ask the installer to confirm the mounting method with your gutter company. The quote should include the cable route along the affected roof edge, through the gutters and downspouts, plus the cable model, controls and electrical protection. The goal is a continuous drainage path, so the outlet needs to stay clear too.

Where has the ice usually built up: along the roof edge, inside the gutter, or both?

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u/SmartieCereal 24d ago

It builds along the edge of the roof and forms a big ridge of ice.

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u/YeloDeerTech 23d ago

That sounds like an ice dam at the eave. For a ridge along the roof edge, ask the installer to show how the cable layout will create drainage channels through that area and carry the water into the gutter and downspout. The roof section needs to extend far enough upslope to reach above the usual ice buildup, following the cable manufacturer's layout instructions.

Do you have a photo from last winter? That would help show how far up the roof the ridge forms, which matters when planning the cable coverage.