How Does Deicer Heater Wire Work?

What is Deicer Heater Wire?

• Deicer wire -- also known as heat wire or electric heating cable -- is metal wire, often coated with lead, that's used to prevent ice from forming or to melt ice that has frozen on a surface.

How Does Deicer Heater Wire Work?

• The deicer wire application that's familiar to most people is used in rear window glass in automobiles. Nearly all deicer wire or electric heat cable applications -- whether in sidewalks, roofs or even farm water troughs -- work similarly to the deicer wire used in car glass. When the wire is powered, it heats the surface from underneath or within, melting the ice that's formed on the surface, or preventing ice from forming.

  Deicer heater wire can be installed under roofing materials, run along the inside of gutters, placed inside of concrete or asphalt driveways, and wound around pipes, drains or underneath water collection troughs. The wire is usually powered by electricity, and can be turned on to prevent ice from forming, or to melt ice that's already formed.

Where is Deicer Heater Wire Used?

• In cold climates where ice is a persistent problem, deicing heater wire is used in a number of applications. In roofs and/or gutters, deicer wire can prevent dangerous roof ice dams, which can cause expensive damage to structures, or pose a threat to people walking underneath. In driveways or sidewalks, deicer wire can eliminate the need for shoveling snow or scraping ice. On farms, deicer wire can prevent water pipes, drains and even watering troughs from freezing.

Why Use Deicer Heater Wire?

• Even if your home only receives snowfall or ice intermittently throughout the winter, using deicing wire can eliminate many of the dangers that come with cold weather. Removing ice dams from large or multi-story homes can be as hazardous as the ice dams themselves. Homes with long driveways or driveways that receive little sunlight can be made safer with the use of deicer wire. On farms, the use of electric heating cable can save time and money while preventing the loss of valuable livestock and property.