Does anyone have any experience with this product in a snow and ice situation? My roof usually has layers of both.
228286
Once you get the snow off the roof with the avalanche, put ice melt on the ice. The temperature has to be in the 20's for salt to work, but it will cut through the ice and melt it.
228287
Hi Katherine,I just cleared my roof after 8 inches of snow, followed by light freezing rain, and then 3 more inches of snow. It was a little harder to push it up the roof, but certainly not impossible. Certainly much better (and safer) than going up there and chopping it all yourself!
228288
Works best on fresh snow. Layers are just harder to get thru. The key is also to have the roof at the right level and angle. We have 1 section of the house it works great on but the other roof angles not so well.
228289
I had the original roof rake these guys made, the fiberglass pole and connection work great, this new way of cutting the snow and is a definite shoulder saver. Just push and short tug and the snow fly's off on the "Slippery Slide". Tough when you have to cut through the icy layer of snow but if you do this after a fresh snow your good to go! This is a high quality product, and I have seen prices as much as 300 bucks from some stores the 150 bucks here is well worth it. I have had the old one for a number of years now and compared to the others (aluminum) the fiberglass pole, wheels, and being to shorten and lengthen at will are wicked awesome. A must have these days in SNOW England.... (New England) I had the original roof rake these guys made, the fiberglass pole and connection work great, this new way of cutting the snow and is a definite shoulder saver. Just push and short tug and the snow fly's off on the "Slippery Slide". Tough when you have to cut through the icy layer of snow but if you do this after a fresh snow your good to go! This is a high quality product, and I have seen prices as much as 300 bucks from some stores the 150 bucks here is well worth it. I have had the old one for a number of years now and compared to the others (aluminum) the fiberglass pole,... » Read More I had the original roof rake these guys made, the fiberglass pole and connection work great, this new way of cutting the snow and is a definite shoulder saver. Just push and short tug and the snow fly's off on the "Slippery Slide". Tough when you have to cut through the icy layer of snow but if you do this after a fresh snow your good to go! This is a high quality product, and I have seen prices as much as 300 bucks from some stores the 150 bucks here is well worth it. I have had the old one for a number of years now and compared to the others (aluminum) the fiberglass pole, wheels, and being to shorten and lengthen at will are wicked awesome. A must have these days in SNOW England.... (New England) « Show Less
228290
If its ice that is froze on the roof might not come off but it gets the snow away so the sun can get at it so the water dont back up under the shingles
228291
Just got done with two days of Minnesota rain then heavy snow that froze everything. Robert is correct. This cut under the top layer of ice crust into the snow layer. The Avalache removed all the snow and ice crust but the ice on the shingles will have to melt way. We have had the worst winter (cold & snow accumulation) I have seen in many years. This product has performed flawlessly through some brutal use.
228292
I would NOT use this product on hard packed snow and ice. Its strength and durability are not great and reinforcement / repairs needed regularly. However, it is great for removing large quantities of soft snow. If your snow has a thin ice crust on top you should be fine.
300714
We don't live in a heavy snow fall area but I moved here from my, so I understand the fear. I think it would be fine. The shed actually comes with three cross beams that the roof is a to. Also, while putting ours together, it fell over and we had to say out portions of it. It's still fine. It did rip in one corner but it was our fault for not screwing it down to something when it git to windy to be out finishing it. So, if it still up after the wind knocking it over, I think the snow will be no problem. Plus it's short enough you could use a broom to just push the snow right off. No problem. Anyway, the cross beams are made of aluminum but they are strong cause they are i beams.
1989448
Yes. I have had mine for about a year. However, you should note that when you have a 50-60 MPH wind event, you'll have to inspect the structure as the poles may come apart. I think this is reasonable. And, you'll need a broom to coax a snow or ice load off the roof's surface day to day. Accumulation of ice is accute at the edge of the roof and must be periodically inspected and maticulously removed. Tom Lehmann
1462341
I just replaced a set that was more than 10 years old. The unit melted through serious ice and snow for that time on a problematic area of our guest house roof. Remember, your roof must by snow free for proper installation. Also, if it is too cold the shingles can crack when you install since you have to pry them up a bit to get fastener clips under them. If you install on your primary residence and are home all winter you can skip the controller and just plug the cables in manually when needed to cut channels in ice dams. They do use some juice so remember to unplug when not needed, after you have allowed snow melt runoff to exit roof. I just replaced a set that was more than 10 years old. The unit melted through serious ice and snow for that time on a problematic area of our guest house roof. Remember, your roof must by snow free for proper installation. Also, if it is too cold the shingles can crack when you install since you have to pry them up a bit to get fastener clips under them. If you install on your primary residence and are home all winter you can skip the controller and just plug the cables in manually when needed to cut channels in ice dams. They do use some juice so remember to unplug when not needed, after... » Read More I just replaced a set that was more than 10 years old. The unit melted through serious ice and snow for that time on a problematic area of our guest house roof. Remember, your roof must by snow free for proper installation. Also, if it is too cold the shingles can crack when you install since you have to pry them up a bit to get fastener clips under them. If you install on your primary residence and are home all winter you can skip the controller and just plug the cables in manually when needed to cut channels in ice dams. They do use some juice so remember to unplug when not needed, after you have allowed snow melt runoff to exit roof. « Show Less
1663024
Mine didn't fit, so I never used it. I have the same problem of trying to keep the snow off. Sorry I wasn't help on this one!
20301
Never had troubles with cables caught in snow.We have cables on 4 buildings now and never seen any troubles like that.Like Cheryl said "best time to lay cables out is in the spring and summer".Makes it easy to work with and the cables get to lay smooth from the heat.
8650
It is not designed to be a seasonal product, but if you live in a place that gets heavy snowfalls, you might want to remove the panels of the roof since they would not hold much of a snow load. And they might just get brittle enough to crack if the temps get very cold and stay that way in winter.
698928
I put these up last summer. They were up this past winter and we did not have any ice damming problems. I believe ice damming is more of an insulation issue ( for example an improperly insulated attic that lets warm air leak out & melt snow on a roof ).
523283
There has to be some slope to the roof. I did my parents roof last night and their roof has a very very slight pitch. It took a little more effort since you have to pull the snow down rather than let gravity pull it down. But yes it works great!
2102887
With proper ventilation (to keep your roof cold) and insulation (so house air doesn't warm it up) you shouldn't have any ice damns so will be OK. I redid all that on my place before installing the guard, so don't know how it does with heavy damning. Without damning it has held up fine in the snow.
230782
I have had mine up for over a year without any issue. I also bolted it down. If it snows you will need to clear the roof if its more than two inches. This can be accomplished by used a push broom and pushing on on the inside of the roof. Hope this helps
1567830
I have not tried snow , but I have hilly terrain so I mounted tires and put 3 gal liquid in each tire with 10 lb air and it does great. I think they will do good in snow. good luck BILL WARD.
1609345
No added support is needed. The mesh is unusually ridged stainless steel with a slight linear corrugation pressed into it for added strength. Kind of reminds me of well screen, real stiff. Wet leaves that might stick on ours blow away once they dry out. fwiw-If you have ice accumulating at your roof edges you need to add either more attic floor insulation and/or ventilation in your attic to remove the warm air that's melting the roof snow. I'm not in the business, just a home owner who has learned the hard way about home care.
1908724
Yes, it's easier to roll out with two people, but my husband does it alone some years. No, the screen walls stay up all winter, just the roof comes down. (One year we didn't get to it in time, and the weight of the snow between the struts warped them. We had to slash the roof to let the snow out. Now we make sure to take it down before the snow flies.)
2011714
I used it all last winter in Northeast Ohio. Had many nights below 10° below zero. It was under a roof but side of building open to outside. Worked well ..... You do have to top off every few days due to evaporation....
20296
I agree with the other responses. When installed and clipped to the roof shinges in the summertime the cables lie on the roof and stay there. They will not lift or move during a heavy snowfall. I would like to mention that even though during a heavy snow the cables will not melt all the way to the top, they will continue keep open channels at the surface of the roof which allows the melted water to flow underneath the heavy snowfall. Because of this you will not get ice build up on the eaves. Mine have been installed for 2 years and continue to function and are still secured in the orignial location. Upstate NY, it snows here. I agree with the other responses. When installed and clipped to the roof shinges in the summertime the cables lie on the roof and stay there. They will not lift or move during a heavy snowfall. I would like to mention that even though during a heavy snow the cables will not melt all the way to the top, they will continue keep open channels at the surface of the roof which allows the melted water to flow underneath the heavy snowfall. Because of this you will not get ice build up on the eaves. Mine have been installed for 2 years and continue to function and are still secured in the orignial... » Read More I agree with the other responses. When installed and clipped to the roof shinges in the summertime the cables lie on the roof and stay there. They will not lift or move during a heavy snowfall. I would like to mention that even though during a heavy snow the cables will not melt all the way to the top, they will continue keep open channels at the surface of the roof which allows the melted water to flow underneath the heavy snowfall. Because of this you will not get ice build up on the eaves. Mine have been installed for 2 years and continue to function and are still secured in the orignial location. Upstate NY, it snows here. « Show Less
2212924
I did not have a problem with it, where I live I do not have a pile of snow accumulation on it, more ice and frost. It is a pain when it is windy if you put on by yourself. but once you get it on it works great. Least I do not have to scrap my windshield every morning.