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Frequently Asked Questions > Heater Cap

Why should I purchase Heater Cap?

If you live in a northern climate, then you may sustain damage to roof and fascia from ice-damming. Ice fills up in the gutters and is forced behind the fascia or up under the shingles causing several thousand dollars of damage to the roof and causing leaks in the home. Heater Cap can eliminate the hazards of icicles hanging dangerously from the gutter, or ice and water collecting on the walk-way areas.

How long does it take to give me an estimate on the cap?

It takes between 30 and 45 minutes while we are there we will measure the house, show you our choices of colors, and a sample of what it looks like.

How does Heater Cap work?

Heater Cap is an encapsulated low voltage wire mounted in gutters, down spouts, and fastened to Gutter Cap. The temperature of the wire is just warm enough to melt ice and snow to keep the gutter system free-flowing during the colder months.

Do I need to have it on the whole house?

No. If you have Gutter Cap on the whole house, ice-damming may not be an issue. Icicles and ice melt in walkways may still be a hazard. Many of our customers have Heater Cap installed only in problem areas.

Is it hard-wired or do I just plug it in?

Heater Cap is hard wired into the circuit box. The system is turned on and off with a switch when needed.

Is it turned on all year?

During times of cold weather and continuous snow fall, it's best to have it on all the time. Otherwise, it will take longer to melt the snow out of the gutter System, then if it was warming while the snow was falling. We suggest turning on when the temperature is forecasted to fall below 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Do I need to have Gutter Cap on my home to have it installed?

Heater Cap can be installed on homes that have no need of gutter protection, such as new construction.

What if I have a gutter protection system other than Gutter Cap on my home?

Heater Cap can be installed on the majority of other gutter protection systems. However, putting Heater Cap on may void the warranty of the other gutter protection system.

What kind of warranty is available with Heater Cap?

Heater Cap offers a lifetime warranty on the Heater Cap panel, and 10 years on the heating cable

How is this product installed? How does it work?

The Heater Cap goes on top of the first row of shingles, in the gutters and down the downspouts. It is an electrical wire working in conjunction with the heat transfer capabilities in our metal alloy cap.

What if I need new gutters? What if I need a new roof?

If new gutters or new roof, which requires tearing off old roof, is required we would need to come out and remove the Heater cap and then re-install, the cost of removing and re-installing the wire would be a minimum labor charge only. If the roof does not need to be torn of to replace then the new roof can be installed over the heater cap.

Does the Heater Cap prevent ice dams?

Heater cap does prevent ice damning at the level of the gutters. Heater Cap is guaranteed for 10 years on material, 5 years electrical, and lifetime on labor.

Will it significantly increase my electrical bill?

Depending on footage and the severity of the winter.



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Clinton, Dewitt and surrounding 90 mile radius. Copyright © 1997-2009 by Suburban Construction, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Iowa Illinois Home ImprovementQuad City Vinyl Replacement WindowsIowa Vinyl Siding ContractorsEgress WindowsIllinois Gutter Cap
Learn the Home Improvement Basics - Frequently Asked Questions Service Area Coverage


Iowa Illinois Home Improvement Contractors Disclaimer: The replacement vinyl window, roofing contractor and vinyl and steel siding installation information presented within this website is for informational purposes only. Please contact us or see our huge showroom to discuss your particular vinyl window, sunroom or siding needs. Specialists of quality replacement windows, siding, sunrooms, roofing, gutter cap, heater cap, entry doors, storm doors and estimates are always free. Who is Suburban Construction? Brian Girskis launched Suburban Construction in 1985 and the family-owned and operated company is growing strong some 25 years and two generations later. His son, J.R. Girskis, is the company president and the third generation was born a few months ago. The Davenport-based company supplies and installs windows, siding and doors for the residential market. In 25 years, Suburban has completed more than 24,000 jobs. “We are always focused on the customer,” said general manager Darin Wilson. “Without the customer, we don’t have a business.” The company was honored as a 2007 Dealer of the Year by Associated Materials Inc., or AMI. “Suburban Construction is a company that definitely goes over and above servicing their customers,” Wayne Fredrick, executive vice president of AMI Sales, said. Working with a large customer base allows Suburban to purchase and buy goods for substantially less then its competitors, Wilson said. “We’re one of the only companies in the nation that offers a lifetime warranty on the product after we install it,” he said. The company doesn’t make money if things go wrong after the installation so crews make sure the job is done properly, he said. With energy conservation such a huge concern, products offered have the Energy Star rating so homeowners see savings on their energy bills. “With today’s home market being so inconsistent, it’s easier to have someone come in and give you a new home on top of your current home rather than having to pack up all your stuff,” he said. For example, by installing new insulated siding, Wilson added, an older home can essentially be turned into a new residence. Founder Brian Girskis still keeps a hand in the business. He was in the manufacturing and wholesale end of the industry in the 1970s and 1980s and distributed material to companies similar to Suburban. “I saw they weren’t generating any repeat business. I learned what not to do from those other people,” Girskis said. “Most of our business is referral business and that’s what we want to keep.” The office and showroom originally were based in downtown Bettendorf. Girskis relocated the company to Davenport in 1995. His decision to specialize in windows, siding and doors was based on two factors: getting better buying power that is passed onto the consumer and building something of value, Girskis said. “We try to do a Cadillac for the price of a Chevy. I’m very satisfied but we’re always looking to do better,” he said. Products Suburban Construction specializes in: Replacement Windows from AMI – Suburban Construction and quality windows by Associated Materials Incorporated, set the standard by which other replacement windows are measured. Innovation has resulted in a collection of windows that are designed and engineered to provide beauty, performance, ease of operation, virtually no maintenance, and increased energy-efficiency. You want a fair price. Don’t be misled by others offering replacement windows for a cheap price. Often times, this is a low-end window you might use for a garage, not your home. Usually, this cheap price doesn’t include measuring charges, custom sizing, replacing rotten wood, insulating inside weight cavities and around perimeters, or covering the outside window trim with maintenance-free aluminum and sealant. At Suburban, you always get a complete installation without any hidden costs. Gutter Cap is a must for the bitter midwest winters! Ice and snow build up in gutters, causing gutter seams to break! In addition, the weight of heavy snow causes gutters to loosen while the back up of ice behind gutters causes moisture damage to fascia. · The Gutter Cap combines surface tension with “capillary action!” This patented design allows rainwater to adhere to the dome of the cap while leaves and debris blow OFF the roof. · Your existing gutter is a free flowing drainage system with Gutter Cap. · Gutter Cap saves you the time, hassle & DANGER of cleaning Gutters…plus saves you upwards of thousands of dollars in damage each year! Some vinyl siding has a reputation for being flimsy, which not only make is awkard to handle and install, but caused problems with sagging and uneven walls long after installation. The Freedom Vinyl Siding from Suburban Construction is designed to help eliminate wavy lines and uneven walls. This leads to the production of a superior finished quality that really lasts. The Freedom Viny Collection is Designed with optimal performance and outstanding beauty. Loaded with premium features, Freedom Premium Vinyl Siding boasts a premium thickness. Freedom Premium Vinyl Siding from Suburban is the best investment you can make in your home and is perfect for every siding project. Wood doors aren't very energy efficient. They also crack, swell, warp and rot, leading to frequent maintenace. Steel doors are more durable, but they easily dent, ding and rust. And if a door's parts aren't designed as a system, they won't work well together or stand the test of time. A fiberglass door simply outperforms wood and steel doors. It won't crack, swell, rot, dent, ding or rust - so it's virtually maintenance free. And only Therma-Tru fiberglass entryways offer full door systems designed, built and tested to the industry's highest standards. You may consider the addition of storm doors to be an unnecessary expense, and may even believe that adding storm doors will decrease the beauty of your home or bring down its market value. Many realtors agree, however, that the addition of storm doors can actually improve your home’s market value, as storm doors will help, in general, to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Energy zoning with triple pane freedom maxx 10 windows can help save you great money. Sun Clean Glass® is a new self cleaning glass technology created by PPG industries. It uses a durable transparent coating that is fused to the surface of the glass with high temperatures during the production of the glass. This glass is available in almost all Suburban Construction replacement windows with one goal in mind, that you spend less time cleaning your windows and more time doing the things you love.

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