Downspout Heat

[Ramper]

Our downspouts are drain-tiled out to out pond (FAR FROM HOUSE). We just had gutters installed and I think the downspouts are freezing up. Can I run gutter heat tape in just the downspouts?

 

[nehog]

plastic or metal spouts?

 

[Ramper]

Metal

 

[Scott H in Wheaton]

I don't see why not. I have used roof deicing cables thru my gutters and downspouts.

 

[G_P]

Use the roof de icing cables. I dont think the heat tape for pipes is meant to have water flowing over it.

 

[Krodad]

You can wrap downspouts with heat ribbon, but you'll still have an issue with the shallow buried tile to the pond.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[Junkman]

Check the downspouts for clogs of leaves. I noticed that I had icicles forming on the gutters today. That is when I realized that cleaning out the leaves too early in the fall wasn't a good idea. I usually clean them after Thanksgiving when I know that all the leaves that are going to fall, are on the ground. If your downspouts are clogged, then the only solution will be to wait till warmer weather, and then clean them. I would take them apart, because you don't want to move the clog further down stream in the pipe than it already is.

 

[Ramper]

The gutters were installed in NOV. We have no tall trees. I meant heat cable not tape.

Any suggestions as to were to buy heating cable? I assume that they will go on sale come spring

 

[Scott H in Wheaton]

The gutters were installed in NOV. We have no tall trees. I meant heat cable not tape.

Any suggestions as to were to buy heating cable? I assume that they will go on sale come spring

Home Depot stocks them in the plumbing aisle across from faucett repair parts.

 

[Ramper]

I grew up in Wheaton (I graduated from WC in '89)

 

[Scott H in Wheaton]

I grew up in Wheaton (I graduated from WC in '89)

Thinking about doing breakfast at "Seven Dwarfs"

 

[Ramper]

That is always a great breakfast. Did you grow up in Wheaton?

 

[nehog]

I'd fish the heater up the inside of the downspout, and just loop the bottom up so that water doesn't flow over it at the plug. Inside it is protected from wind cooling, and (IMHO) will work better.

 

[Ramper]

I think I will do the down spouts NOW and look for some low wattage cable and do the brain line in the spring

 

[BlindViper]

The gutters were installed in NOV. We have no tall trees. I meant heat cable not tape.

Any suggestions as to were to buy heating cable? I assume that they will go on sale come spring

No tall trees doesn't really mean much. I cleaned a restaurant flat roof in december for a ice issue. No trees with in 300 yds but one downspout was clogged with guess what? Leaves go figure.