Frequently Asked Questions
Heater Cap FAQ
Heater Cap is a heating system that gently heats the ice and snow coming off of your roof. The system uses a combination of heat disbursement panels and self regulating heating cable. The heating panels melt the ice and snow while a relay of heating cables keep the water melted and flowing through the gutters and down spouts. Heater Cap is safely hardwired into a circuit breaker to be turned on and off when needed. Heater Cap can be installed on the roof, in the gutters and down spouts or on top of gutter guards. In some cases it may be applied to underground draining systems.
Heater Cap is more effective than heat tapes and wires because it melts a larger area of ice and snow. Heater Cap is also safer because the self regulating heat cable doesn’t get hot enough to start a fire, is properly grounded to avoid sparking, and is hard wired into the home. Also, Heater Cap is less visible then the zigzag configuration of heat wires and tapes, so you don’t lose any curb appeal.
The expense is determined by the amount of footage. Usually the treated areas are just the walkways. The cable has to travel up roof valleys, on gutter covers (if present), in the gutters, down the down spouts, and into drain tiles if present. There is a separate expense for the electrical hook up to the circuit breaker.
Heater Cap should always be hard wired into the circuit breaker on a separate circuit in order to function properly and safely. You can purchase a plug in kit with up to 100 feet of wire for self-installation, but there is no warranty.
Roof valleys require a proactive stance. The cable and panels will be doubled up and mounted in the roof valleys (areas where two or more sections of roof join) to melt the ice and snow. Otherwise, the massive amount of ice and snow would overwhelm the system.
Turn on switch at circuit breaker when outside temperature falls between 30-35 Degrees.
Turn off in March / April when snow is melted and temperatures maintain above 35 Degrees.
Energizing the system at low temperatures may cause the breaker to trip. Circuit breaker may trip several times until heating cable is fully heated.
Turn on the system as soon as you remember: if it’s possible wait until a warmer day where the weather will be above freezing to turn the system on and leave it on for the remainder of the season.
If you already have snow accumulation on the house: turn the system on and monitor your breaker box. Depending upon the length of the wire and the temperature the breaker may trip when you turn the system on. If it trips, then turn it back on, if it trips again turn it back on, If it trips a 4th time wait 10 minutes and start again. Once you get the system started monitor the circuit box for the breaker tripping while the system reaches optimal heat.
The system may take multiple days to be able to heat optimally and catch up to the snow build up on your home.
Repeated low temperature starts will shorten the life of your Heater Cap System.
The amount of power required to heat the wire and panel from below freezing temperatures is much higher than when temperatures are above freezing. The additional amount of energy needed to turn on the system at low temperatures may cause the breaker to trip. Breaker may trip repeatedly until the cable reaches optimum temperatures.
Turning the system on multiple times in below freezing temperatures over the winter will actually end up costing you more money instead of saving it. The system may take a few days to be able to heat optimally and catch up to the snow build up on your home and you would need to constantly be on the lookout for tripped breakers.
Repeated low temperature starts will shorten the life of your Heater Cap System.
We do not recommend splicing. Splicing the wire voids the warranty and creates a weakened weather barrier increasing the chances of water ruining the wire.
Gutter Cap installs over the first row of shingles and gutter. The majority of debris is pushed off by the wind. The remainder is flushed off through the principle of surface tension. Rainwater adheres to the Gutter Cap and drains into the gutter while the debris falls to the ground.
There is consumer awareness that metal dome gutter protection systems are the most effective. Gutter Cap takes the design even further with a fully rounded nose, and a patented trough system. Gutter Cap has an installation training facility available in Chicago. All installers that have passed the rigorous training course become factory certified.
Gutter Cap can be installed on almost any type of roof, shingle type, and pitch from flat roofs to mansards. The patented design allows gutter cap to mount directly to the lip of the gutter without the use of clumsy brackets or clips. The panel follows the contour of the roof and blends in with the roofline making it practically invisible.
Heater Cap of Chicagoland
Protect Your Entire
HOME WITH HEATER CAP
A Heater Cap System will protect your entire home from the foundation up to the roof.
Roof Damage
Water in Basement
Fascia & Wood Rot
Foundation Damage
WE COME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
At Heater Cap we make customer satisfaction our main priority. See what our clients have to say:
Great product! Gutter Caps do what they are supposed to do…keep leaves and debris out of the gutters! I’ve had this system on my home for 12 years and couldn’t be happier.
Brian, Davenport IA
I’m glad I found them – they do great work, completed my project in a single day, and my entire experience from start to finish was excellent. The workmanship of the installation is really first class from end-to-end and I didn’t have to supervise a single thing, and there was nothing I’d change
Neil, Naperville IL
A really good product from a company who began gutter protection over 20 years ago. They have been innovators in the business for years.
John, Branson MO
TAKE A PEEK AT OUR INSTALLED WORK
Inspiration Gallery
Heater Cap offers quality products and expert installation services through our vetted Dealer Network to ensure that every job is installed with superior craftsmanship. Take a look at our photo gallery to see our hard work!
Serving the Entire USA
**Offers valid only through participating contractors.
Gutter Cap & Gutter Cap Dealers are neither a broker nor a lender. Financing is provided by third party lenders unaffiliated with Gutter Cap. Under terms and conditions arranged directly between the customer and such lender, all subject to credit requirements and satisfactory completion of finance documents. Any finance terms are estimates only, contact Gutter Cap for amount of down payment percentage, terms of repayment, and annual percentage rate (APR).
*Financing is provided by Service Finance Company, LLC
