Gutter heating
Optimal frost protection for gutters, downpipes and box gutters
During the cold season, it is not uncommon for icicles to form and damage gutters or downpipes. If these icicles then fall, they can cause enormous damage and may even injure passers-by. Appropriate frost protection is therefore essential for a number of reasons.
Frost protection as a reliable way to prevent damage
During snowfall and prolonged periods of freezing cold, it is not only gutters but also downpipes that are at risk from ice build-up. Whilst the icicles that form as a result may be a sight to behold, they can quickly become a dangerous hazard for pedestrians and cars.
Downpipes are not just at risk of bursting. Additional sunlight causes meltwater to form, which can then no longer drain away. It is this process that leads to icicles forming in the first place.
Consequently, it is not uncommon for gutters or downpipes to be damaged during the cold winter months. If the icicles then fall off, they can cause enormous damage and possibly even injure passers-by. Appropriate frost protection is therefore essential for a number of reasons.
Heating cables: Frost protection for gutters, pipes and more
Did you know that, as a homeowner, you are responsible for ensuring that icicles hanging from your roof do not pose a danger to passers-by and cars? Integrated heating cables, which are inexpensive and require little maintenance, help to prevent this. This minimises safety risks; furthermore, the right heating system helps to optimise the roof’s longevity through reliable corrosion protection. Gutters fitted with heating cables can prevent not only falling icicles but also roof avalanches. Comprehensive safety measures are particularly important in public buildings.
These include, amongst others:
- Office buildings
- Hospitals
- Companies
- Community centres
- Supermarkets
However, heating tapes are also true all-rounders when used as pipe trace heating, as they also protect underground pipes, other pipework and sprinkler systems from freezing. Incidentally, at a maximum temperature of 65 °C, there is absolutely no risk to plastic pipes, gutters and conduits.
Avoid unnecessary costs with the right heating tape
As well as the risk to passers-by posed by ice forming on a gutter, damage to roofs, downpipes or other areas where icicles can form can also prove costly.
If water cannot drain through the downpipe, it may burst in the worst-case scenario. A gutter heating system from eltherm is the ideal solution for protecting your rain gutters, box gutters, downpipes or pitched roofs against ice formation, preventing damage and thus guaranteeing maximum safety.
Self-regulating gutter heating systems
eltherm offers a smart solution for protecting water pipes, gutters, downpipes, box gutters, water outlets and drains from freezing. It is based on self-regulating heating cable technology (ELtherm Self-Regulating).
These heating cables consist of two supply conductors running parallel to one another and embedded in a cross-linked heating element doped with carbon particles. As temperatures fall, the distances between these particles decrease (molecular expansion), causing the resistance to drop and the power output to increase. This process works in reverse as temperatures rise. A regulated control system, on the other hand, offers greater energy efficiency.
Minimal maintenance – maximum flexibility
Self-regulating heating cables are reliable and require only minimal maintenance. They are therefore designed not only for trouble-free operation, but also for a long service life. For gutter heating, we use the ELSR-LS or ELSR-N low-temperature heating cables.
Self-regulating heating cables can be operated with or without temperature control. Although the heating cables regulate their own temperature, they cannot be set to a specific temperature.
If you require a constant temperature, this must be controlled via a suitable control system. The advantage of this is that you save even more electricity. Thanks to the setting, the cable does not need to be in constant operation, as would be the case without a control system.
Key facts
- Easy to install and straightforward to retrofit
- Low installation costs and minimal maintenance
- Optimal frost protection combined with maximum cost-effectiveness
- Heating cables made in Germany
- Controlled by thermostats and sensors: ideal temperature regulation
- Suitable for plastic pipes
- Cost-effective control thanks to ISD-1 (electronic snow and ice detector)
Easy to fit to gutters, downpipes and more
eltherm offers a reliable and straightforward installation. Using the ISD-1/1.1 enables cost-effective control. The electronic ice and snow detector measures both humidity and temperature. The heating system only switches on when the temperature is just above freezing and humidity is present at the same time. This makes it an extremely energy-efficient solution.
Rated power at 0 °C
- Ice water 36 W/m
- Air 18 W/m
Products used
ELSR-N
ELSR-LS
EL-Clic
ISD-1
FAQ
The answer is: Yes! As a homeowner, you must ensure the safety of passers-by and vehicles. During the colder months, icicles or burst pipes can cause enormous damage and may even injure passers-by. Appropriate frost protection in the form of gutter heating is therefore essential for a number of reasons.
The use of electric trace heating in gutters prevents them and downpipes from freezing over (icicles).
A gutter heating system has a maximum temperature of 65°C, which means there is no risk whatsoever to plastic pipes, gutters and conduits.
