Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

After dealing with damage from ice dams for the first time in my life (new house) I set out to learn all about them. With a lot of researching on the matter the 200' cable was the most logical and economical solution for me. The bad reviews on the cable not working at all and Joseph Plummer's video review would have turned me away, but at this point I had no other option. Based on my opinion and observation I feel I can theoretically debunk those bad reviews. First, the bad reviews on the cable not working after installing it. I tried to get a roofing company to install the cable because I have an extremely steep pitched roof and did not want to get on it. The roofing company didn't want to mess with it so I had to install it myself. Too not fall off of my roof you have to be in motion walking up it or have a cushion (thick memory foam pad) underneath you to keep from sliding off. I had someone hold the ladder so if I did slip the rungs up over the gutter would catch me (hopefully). I was real careful to unroll the cable in the yard and at no point did I kink it or have it bind up anywhere. If you're not gentle with the cable you will damage it underneath the insulation rendering it useless. I think this is why people say it was working when they got it, but not after it was installed. What else would explain this other than it was damaged during the installation process? It took me about 6 hours to install because all of these factors. Second, Jo's review shows the ice melting around the cables like little tunnels. The first decent snow I got started late in the evening. I purposefully waited until in the next morning to plug the cable in to melt the snow hoping to conserve electricity. Throughout the next several days with the cable being on the whole time I dealt with the same exact thing that Jo did. Ice on top of the cables, little tunnels that was actually channeling the water into the gutters which were full of ice too even though I had the cable double run in them with the provided spacers. I was thinking the same as Jo (these work but have their limits). A few weeks later came a big snow. Just like the first it started late in the evening. With the temps already in the 20's I decided to go ahead and plug the cable in right then. The next morning, late, after snowing most of the night and still snowing I go outside to have a look and VOILA! It works. The pictures aren't that great but give an idea. Also, by plugging it in as soon as the snow starts it keeps the snow and ice completely melted in the gutters and won't allow ice to form in the first place! If Jo had a snow-and-ice-free roof and plugged the cable in when the snow or ice-rain or whatever started and kept the cable on the whole time, there is no way the ice could have formed that much around the cable. No way. I'm not trying to bash Jo or the others. All I'm saying is if you have no other option like me then get the cable and heed my advice. It should work just fine. I had plenty of extra clips left over and the instructions are awesome with pictures showing different methods of installation.