MTDIYer
Member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2017
- Messages
- 20
- Reaction score
- 2
I live in Montana, so it can be very cold in winter. One of downspouts draining a gutter ends up pouring into a drain in a concrete apron by my back door. The drain goes under concrete for about 30 feet, then another 30 feet of gravel/road mix to appear and drain into a field. I live in the country. A handyman who did occasional jobs for me advised me to get a heating tape, the kind you use for deicing roofs, and put it through the drain to stop it freezing and flooding the concrete patio by the back door. I agreed. He bought a tape years ago and it worked beautifully.
In getting ready for winter this year, I plugged the heating wire in and it immediately blew the GFI. So I assume it has shorted and needs replaced. It took me a while to figure out what the cord was called - a roof deicer. Now I found there are various wattages per foot. Does anyone have a recommendation as to what I should buy. I can't see anything listed on the old cable for wattage. As it is going to be plugged in all winter, I'd like to not waste money on electricity, but at the same time, I want the cable to do its job.
In getting ready for winter this year, I plugged the heating wire in and it immediately blew the GFI. So I assume it has shorted and needs replaced. It took me a while to figure out what the cord was called - a roof deicer. Now I found there are various wattages per foot. Does anyone have a recommendation as to what I should buy. I can't see anything listed on the old cable for wattage. As it is going to be plugged in all winter, I'd like to not waste money on electricity, but at the same time, I want the cable to do its job.