Ice Dam

[Nazerac]

So, to reduce the likelihood of another damn dam this year, I had three options:

Re-roof the low pitch area above the octagon bay, including the installation of an ice dam barrier, about $1,000.00
Drywall/insulate knee wall on the front of the house, insulate the roof area etc., probably about $200.00 and a lot of back pain
or, for about $40.00 get this roof deicing cable from Menards (on sale): http://wrap-on.com/products/rgdic.html

Anyone used of those cables before?

[Bonster]

I would go with the 2nd solution (knee wall), but get the 3rd in the interim till you can finish it.  (Unless your roof/gutter/soffit is already damaged beyond repair)

I have some work to do to resolve certain areas of low (air) flow in my attic, yet since I probably won't get to them before the snow, I'm going to get some deicing cable for now.  The only place I get ice dams seems to be over my front stairs (which is strange as it sits above non-heated space).     

The reviews of deicing cables seem favorable here
http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=235137
though you ultimately would like to get to a point where they're not necessary.

[Bonster]

Hector(14:55:51): The deicing cables worked great, but I
also purchased the optional humidistat which kicked
on only when it was a certain temperature and certain
humidity; that helped save money.  I then automated
the process of turning it on or off.

Hector(15:23:05): Frost King
Hector(15:23:26): http://www.castlewholesalers.com/FROST-KING-RC60-60-Roof-De-Icing-Cable-120V-5W-ft-.html
Hector(15:27:27): FROST KING Roof Sentry was the name of the humidistat

Hector(15:53:15): http://www.builderssquare.com/xp_1474742-Easy_Heat_Hardware_RS1_Roof_Sentry_Control_183865.aspx