A system for securing one or more heating cables to a roof and having one or more apparatuses, each apparatus including a metal base panel and a continuous metal C-shaped channel integrally-formed with the base panel. The channel includes a pair of opposing continuous channel walls creating and surrounding a continuous cavity having a cross-sectional cavity shape substantially identical for at least a majority thereof to the cross-sectional shape of the cable. The channel walls are resiliently flexible to enable receipt of a continuous length of the heating cable within the cavity such that the heating cable is in snug continuous contact with the channel to enhance heat conductance from the heating cable to the base panel.

A snow rake device comprises an open shape rake head operatively coupled to a gear assembly, handle assembly, and motor. The motor drives a flex shaft to rotate, which is pinioned into a linear reciprocating motion by the gear assembly, causing the rake head to move in opposite distal and proximal directions. Cutting bars on the rake head may then break up compacted snow and ice to more efficiently clear a building roof from snow.