Heating the edge of a glass canopy in winter
Why heat, how it works, power consumption. Real SPb operating data.
Glass canopies accumulate ice in winter — meltwater by day, freezing by night. Ice weighs the structure and slides off as "blocks" at the worst moments (passers-by). Edge heating solves both.
01How it works
A heating cable 25–45 W/m runs along the bottom edge (in the drainage profile). Thermostat-controlled, kicks in at −2 to +2 °C (the dangerous range). Doesn't run below −15 °C (powder snow, no blocks).
02Power use
| Length | Power | Season use |
|---|---|---|
| 2 m | 50 W | ~30 kWh (180 ₽) |
| 4 m | 100 W | ~60 kWh (360 ₽) |
| 6 m | 150 W | ~90 kWh (540 ₽) |
| 10 m | 250 W | ~150 kWh (900 ₽) |
Real SPb 2024–2025 data: heater runs avg 320 of 4 320 winter hours (7.4%). Cost is negligible.
032026 prices
| Length | With install | + programmer |
|---|---|---|
| 2 m | from 18 600 ₽ | +8 400 ₽ |
| 4 m | from 28 800 ₽ | +8 400 ₽ |
| 6 m | from 38 400 ₽ | +8 400 ₽ |
| 10 m | from 58 600 ₽ | +12 800 ₽ |
For storefront canopies on SPb main avenues — heating is mandatory. 30–60k ₽ pays back by avoiding a single injury claim. For private dachas — usually overkill.
04Alternatives
- Steep slope (5°+) — snow slides naturally
- Hydrophobic coating on lower edge
- Manual stick-knocking by janitor (unreliable for commercial)
05This service at REAL GLASS
If you've read this far, the topic is probably relevant to a real project. We make glass canopies in-house in St. Petersburg, with a measure within 1–3 days, 1-year warranty and a fixed contract price. All numbers in this article come from our actual 2026 quotes.
For a project-specific estimate — see the service page or request a free on-site measure.
