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Pipe freeze protection cable in bulk length at Davies Hardware, 806 Main St, Poughkeepsie NY (C) Daniel Friedman FAQs on Heat Tapes to Prevent Frozen Pipes#2
Q&A on how to prevent pipes from freezing

  • POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about how to protect buildings from freeze damage: prevent frozen pipes, frost heaves, cracking due to freezing, and prevent water and mold damage that follows frozen, burst pipes.

Heating tape freeze protection for pipes: questions & answers

Here are frequently-asked questions (and replies) on the use of heat or heating tapes to protect pipes from freezing.

This article series explains where, why, and how to add heat at cold problem spots to avoid freezing pipes - both supply pipes and drain pipes. We also point to information on using heating cables on heating oil piping and in in other locations. We discuss the safe use of heat tapes in buildings and warn about unsafe heating tapes and fire hazards.

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FAQs on Using Heat Tapes & Cables to Protect Pipes From Freezing #2

Heat tape on a water pipe (C) Daniel Friedman

Recent questions & answers about using heating tapes on pipes, posted originally at HEAT TAPES to AVOID FROZEN PIPES - please be sure to review the advice given there.

On 2018-10-28 by (mod) - can I insulate over Frostex heat tapes?

Alex

Can you say exactly which Frostex product or attach a photo of the tzpe and its packaging?

Some pipe heating tapes permit insulation, others not.

Watch out: failure to follow the manufacturer's heat tape installation instrutions risks a fire or frozen pipe damage.

On 2018-10-28 by Alex

I am using frostext heat tape in my mobile home can i use foam insulation to cover the heat tape..

On 2018-07-23 by (mod) - don't insulate before reading the heat tape instructions

Thanks, Don for a great question.

I would not insulate heating cable lines before reading the instructions from the heating tape (or in some countries "heat trace") instructions from the manufacturers. Some heating cables will overheat and can be a fire hazard if insulated over.

Beyond the fire issue - which is key - there's a practical concern with how you'll get to the cable to replace it when it fails, but perhaps that's secondary.

Where water lines are running through a ceiling they have no business freezing in a building that is being heated in winter. I admit I don't know a shred of a thing about your situation, but

- if your building is heated, let's focus first on finding and fixing the air leaks or insulation defects that are letting pipes freeze in an insulated ceiling - surely that should not be happening.

- Sometimes I add heat in an older building simply by putting a grate or two into a ceiling in a problem area - that lets a bit of warm air from the heated space enter the problem spot.

You see I am trying to solve the problem in a durable way that's a simple as possible.

See PIPE FREEZE-UP POINTS https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Pipe_Freeze_Points.php

On 2018-07-23 by Don

Can you install heat cable to water lines in a ceiling and insulate and sheetrock over them ?

On 2018-01-07 2 y (mod) -

Mike

It's often the case that a slow flow of water through a low-sloped drain line in freezing locations will freeze and block the drain.

Solutions are

- use a larger diameter drain line

- increase the slope if that's feasible

- use heat tapes

Beware that even if the pipe itself is protected from freezing we sometimes see an accumulation of ice at the drain outlet - that can still block the drain. Careful placement of heat tape near the end of the pipe can prevent that issue.

On 2018-01-07 by Mike

I have 3 I attic HVAC units and they have drain Ines for condensation that ecut through PVC pipe out through the soffit. When it getting close to 0 outside the drain lines freeze. What's the best method to prevent this?

On 2018-01-05 by (mod) - how to use heat tape and insulation on pipes that are close-together

It will be most-effective to wrap each pipe individually, but it's perfectly fine for your heating tape to bridge through air at the end of one wrapped-pipe to pass over to the second pipe to be wrapped.

If your pipe-heating tape is a brand and model that permits being covered by insulation (or requires it) then you could wrap both pipes at once and that will be adequate for most situations.

Leaving the drywall open on the heated side of the building should reduce the risk of freezing (presuming the building is heated) it also permits access to the pipes and heating tapes when the tape needs replacement or the pipes need repair.

I never would run a pipe heating tape through a concealed space.

On 2018-01-05 by Tom

I have hot and cold water pipes that run up an exterior wall and they have frozen in the past.

The water pipes run parallel to each other and are only 1.5 inches apart. I was thinking about using an electric pipe heating cable made by WRAP-ON from Home depot which requires fiberglass insulation loosely wrapped around the cord.

Since the pipes are so close together I'm not sure how to wrap them.

I Can wrap them individually but not sure I can wrap the insulation indivually on the pipes after due to them being so close together. Can I wrap the insulation around both pipes at the same time?

Or would wrapping the electrical cable around both pipes and then wrapping it with insulation work..

..it might be less efficient. Also, since the pipes are in the walls, I would leave the dry wall along the pipe length open. The fridge placed in front of it helps to hide the big hole in the wall.

On 2017-12-30 y (mod) - use heating tapes at mobile homes?

Yes

On 2017-12-29 by Dot

Can you use
heat tape inside I live in a mobile home and pipes are on outside wall in an area where it is difficult to heat and have froze in the past was thinking of putting tape on them

On 2017-12-27 by (mod) - heating tapes on plastic pipe?

I would be careful about putting heat tape over plastic pipe - it could melt and result in a leak.

If the distance of un-taped pipe is short, say an inch or so, the surrounding warmth of the heat tape + insulation will be sufficient as long as the pipe is not in a spot where it is exposed to an icy draft.

On 2017-12-27 by Lynn

I live in a trailer. I had the heat taped replaced last year. There is a spot in the pipes where the heat tape doesn't cover.. It where the plastic pipe connects to the metal pipe. I was wondering if I could put a small piece of heat tape in that one spot

On 2017-11-21 by (mod) - find a way to seal drafts

No. You need to find a way to seal drafts and then direct some heat into that area

On 2017-11-20 by Anonymous

I can't not reach area where pipes freeze would my heat tape work on pipe if it was six foot before freezing area

On 2017-10-31 by (mod) -

Paul

Take a look at PIPE FREEZE PROTECTION - home - for a series of articles of which the page you're on (heat tapes) is one option.

I'd need to know more specifics before I could make more-detailed suggestions.

Choices involve adding heat, insulation, heat tapes, changing out pipe materials, keeping water flowing in a loop, and other steps.

On 2017-10-31 by PAUL

Hi, I have a barn that is not heated and I live in Illinois. I need to try and keep water out there vs. shutting it down and blowing out the lines. The copper pipe is pretty extensive, to some horse stalls, 2 spigots, toilet, sink and more.

I was thinking about using heat tapes but am not sure how many to get or where to place them. I'm not sure it would be feasible to cover all the pipe. If you have a response you could email to me, I would be so very grateful. pjc69@sbcglobal.net


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Continue reading  at HEAT TAPES to AVOID FROZEN PIPES or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Pipe Freeze Protection Articles

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HEAT TAPE PIPE PROTECTION FAQs-2 at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING FREEZE PROTECTION

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