Run your hand over the surface of the heat tape. Inspect the insulation for any cracks, nicks or breaks. If the electrical wire insulation has any surface defect, stop the test. Remove the defective heat tape and install a new heat tape as per the manufacturers instructions. Fill the plastic food grade bag with ice.
How to easily select and install heating tape?
- Read all the directions.
- Use only laboratory-tested heat tape, authorized for use with manufactured homes.
- Do not cross the heat tape back over itself. This could overheat the tape and start a fire.
How hot does your heat tape get?
- Mid-range chemical processing
- Food processing
- Water lines
- Fuel oil
- Condensate return
How to install heat tape to your Pipes?
Materials Needed to Install Heat Tape
- The proper amount of heat tape, or braiding, needed to wrap around your water lines at a 6″ to 8″ interval.
- Power supply (GFCI outlet, extension cord)
- PVC/electrical tape
- Fiberglass pipe insulation
- Vapor seal wrap
- Tape measure
- Scissors and Knife
- Mask, gloves, and eye protection
- Supplies to clean your pipe (rag with cleaner)
How do you install heat tape?
How to install heat tape
- Check pipes. Do not install heat tape over leaking pipes. ...
- Attach to pipe. Use only automatic heat tape, with heavy rubber insulation around the wires. ...
- Attach heat tape. Space wraps according to the manufacturer's guidelines. ...
- Insulate. It's a good idea to cover the water pipe and heat tape with pipe insulation or pipe jacketing. ...
- Plug it in. ...
What is heat tape used for?
How to wrap a water pipe?
What to cover water pipe with?
Can heat tape damage plastic pipes?
Does heat tape work on pipes?
Can heat tape be used over insulation?
Can you use heat tape on a manufactured home?
See more
Can heat cable be repaired?
Only a qualified electrician should make repairs to the Watts Radiant heating cables. It is highly recommended that an experienced tile installer remove the tile over the damage.
Why is my heat tape not working?
Switch the power source back on to the heat tape. Feel along the length of the heat tape. It should be getting warm. If the heat tape fails to warm up, after 10 minutes, the thermostat or the heat tape itself is bad.
How do you check if your heat tape is working?
0:117:33Is my Heat Tape Working? How Do I know? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd see that the snow is melted around where you know the tape is or two you've got to physicallyMoreAnd see that the snow is melted around where you know the tape is or two you've got to physically get up there and touch it feel the heat tape.
How do you test self regulating heat tape?
1:152:00Heat Trace Megger Testing Procedure - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNext connect one lead to the ground braid. And one lead to the bus wires perform. The insulationMoreNext connect one lead to the ground braid. And one lead to the bus wires perform. The insulation resistance test for one minute after one minute check the rating.
How often should you replace heat tape?
Replace Heat Tape Regularly Speaking of replacing, heat tape only has a 3-year lifespan. Most heat tape manufacturers warn that you should replace your heat tapes every 3 years minimum. Heat tape has a near-constant connection with both water and electricity and usually isn't protected well from the elements.
Can you plug heat tape into an extension cord?
Don't forget to plug in your heat tape before the onset of cold weather. Do not use an extension cord. The heat tape must plug directly into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) receptacle. You should find a GFCI protected outlet underneath your manufactured home, near the water inlet.
How much does it cost to replace heat tape?
Heat Tape Installation Cost Heat wire costs between $12 and $20 per linear foot to install. This cost varies depending on the difficulty of the project.
Should heat tape be warm to the touch?
If the Heat Cable Kit is installed correctly, the light in the plug will be on and the cable should be warm to the touch. You can also test the cable to know if it is working properly. Plug in the cable and wrap a bag of ice around the thermostat block and after 20 minutes, the cable should feel warm to the touch.
Can you wrap heat tape with insulation?
* To avoid overheating, don't cover heat tapes with insulation, even though some manufacturers may permit it. If you do add insulation according to manufacturers' instructions, use a nonflammable type, such as fiberglass, not foam or vinyl insulation that could catch fire from a failing heat tape.
How many ohms should heat trace have?
Minimum readings of 20 M Ohms for each circuit is an acceptable level to test for. A record should be kept of the reading after the cable has been installed. This reading can be used as a reference point when taking future readings during regular maintenance.
How long does heat tape last under a mobile home?
three yearsHeat tapes can only last for three years because they are always exposed to water and electricity, and so you should replace them at least every three years.
Can you leave heat tape plugged in all winter?
Modern tapes have a built-in thermostat that automatically calls for power (and the resulting heat) as the surrounding temperature drops near freezing and cuts power off as the temperature rises. Those tapes do not draw electricity all the time, even though they remain plugged in.
How long does it take for heat tape to unfreeze pipes?
Apply Heat Alternatively, you can wrap the pipe with heat tape and plug it in. You should be able to thaw the ice within the pipe in 30–45 minutes with any of these methods.
What is heat tape used for?
You should apply heat tape to all exterior water supply piping and shutoff valves. Also protect any interior water pipes that run along outside walls or anywhere that the temperature may drop below freezing.
How to wrap a water pipe?
Start with the plug end next to the outlet, and run the heat tape the entire length of the freshwater supply pipe. Also wrap the water pipe below ground level, to the frost level. Methods for attaching heat tape to the pipe vary. Some types of heat tape wrap around the pipe, some run along one side of the pipe.
What to cover water pipe with?
If the insulation does not have a weather-protective outer surface, you will need to cover it with a waterproof wrap.
Can heat tape damage plastic pipes?
Non-automatic heat tapes can damage plastic pipes, especially if the taped pipes are covered with insulation. For this job you'll need automatic heat tape (the kind with a thermostat), electrical tape, and pipe insulation (which could take the form of a waterproof insulated pipe jacket, or pipe insulation with vapor seal cover).
Does heat tape work on pipes?
Because your safety is most important, check with the manufacturer or dealer to see if a certain heat tape will work on your pipes. Like anything, maintenance is necessary, but if used properly, heat tape can save many headaches during the winter months.”. Tweet.
Can heat tape be used over insulation?
Heat tape should not be used over the thermal insulation or near flammable materials. Check heat tapes at least once a year, paying particular attention to older tape which may develop cracks in the insulation. When you purchase a new tape, get the correct size for the intended job. Do not overlap heat tape over itself.
Can you use heat tape on a manufactured home?
Use only laboratory-tested heat tape, authorized for use with manufactured homes. Do not cross the heat tape back over itself. This could overheat the tape and start a fire. If your water supply piping is plastic, ONLY use automatic thermostatically controlled heat tape.
How does heat tape work?
Unlike other household wiring that becomes hazardous when hot, these products produce heat on purpose. You plug one end into an outlet and spiral wrap the rest around a water pipe, or drape it along a gutter or roof edge.
Why use heat tape on roof?
They can prevent pipe freezing, reduce ice buildup that blocks gutters and downspouts, and in a staggered pattern, warm the edge of a roof enough to prevent ice dams.
Can heat tape be used on walls?
Install heat tapes on exterior surfaces and exposed pipes, not around pipe insulation and not buried inside walls, floors, or ceilings. If you do add insulation according to manufacturer's instructions, use a non-flammable type such as fiberglass, not foam or vinyl that could catch fire from a failing heat tape.
Can you use heat tape on water pipes?
Make sure they are rated for the intended use, and do not use heat tapes designed specifically for water pipes in gutters or around fuel oil lines. - As an extra margin of safety, plug heat tapes into a grounded outlet protected by a quick-tripping circuit breaker called a ground-fault circuit-interrupter.
Is heat tape the same as thermostat?
All heat tapes are not the same. You need to check product specs carefully. For example, some manufacturers say the built-in thermostat should rest against the pipe and be covered with insulation to sense pipe temperature. Others say it should be left hanging and uncovered to sense air temperature.
Can you wrap pipes in heat tape?
In the northeast, the utility company Vermont Gas Systems is asked if a customer should wrap pipes in electric heat tape. The answer: Absolutely not. Heat tapes can be a fire hazard. There is always a better way to deal with freezing pipes.
Can you wrap heat tape over itself?
Do not wrap heat tape over itself, even though some manufacturers may permit it. - Check heat tapes at the start of every heating season and periodically during operation. Remove the tape if you see cuts or cracks, charring, animal chew marks, bare wires or a loose or missing end cap at the end of the tape.
How to install heat tape on a pipe?
There are two ways to install heat tape to a pipe. The first is parallel where the heat tape is applied in a straight flat line against the pipe. If you use this method under your mobile home be sure to position the heat tape on the side most exposed to the weather. Parallel heat tape on a water line. #affiliate.
What is heat tape?
The first is the hardwired heat tape. These tapes are professionally connected to your home’s electric system and controlled with its own breaker. Most of us do not have the luxury of this type of installation because it requires a licensed electrician to install.
What type of heat tape is used for manufactured homes?
There are two types of heat tape available for manufactured homes. The first type is a one-piece flat heat tape with a rubber or silicone coating. When silicone heat tape is installed, it must never overlap itself and the heat tape must not have kinks or steep bends.
How many watts does a heat tape use?
The most common heat tapes use either 2 watts per foot or 7 watts per foot and keep your water line from freezing down to an impressive -50F degrees. Newsminer.com explains that if an average heat tape draws 5 watts of electricity per foot then a 6-foot long heat tape will use 30 watts to heat the pipe.
Why does heat tape stop working?
A downside to using this type of heat tape is that it has no rubber coating, the heat tape tends to rust and stop working due to the lack of a moisture barrier. Most contractors like to use this type of tape as they can buy it in large quantities and use only what’s needed for any particular job.
Why is heat tape used?
Heat tape is used to prevent metal and rigid plastic water filled lines from freezing. In sub-freezing areas, heat tape is one of the most popular ways to protect pipes from freezing because it’s affordable and works remarkably well. Heat tape isn’t sticky.
Where to put heat tape on mobile home?
Heat tape should be installed on an exposed pipe located outside of your home only. As stated above, water supply and drain lines in the area between the ground and the bottom of the mobile home is the most common place to install heat tape for mobile and manufactured homes.
What is heat tape?
The tapes are constructed from two insulated wires that emit heat when electrical energy is supplied to the circuit. Modern heat tapes generally have an in-line thermostat installed to control the operation.
How long does it take for a heat tape thermostat to set?
Lay the plastic bag of ice over the heat tape thermostat. Allow it to set for 30 minutes. This amount of time will be sufficient to drop the temperature of the thermostat below 40 degrees F. If possible, do not allow water to flow through the water pipe you are testing.
What temperature does a thermostat turn on?
The thermostat is factory set to turn on the electrical power when temperatures reach 40 degrees F or below. Testing the heat tape for operation is a two-fold process. Both tests require no tools. Advertisement.
Does Hunker use U.L. heat tape?
Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Install only Underwriters Laboratory (U.L.) cert ified heat tapes. These certified heat tapes have passed stringent testing and are safe to use in all applications. There are no serviceable or accessible parts on a heat tape.
What is heat tape used for?
You should apply heat tape to all exterior water supply piping and shutoff valves. Also protect any interior water pipes that run along outside walls or anywhere that the temperature may drop below freezing.
How to wrap a water pipe?
Start with the plug end next to the outlet, and run the heat tape the entire length of the freshwater supply pipe. Also wrap the water pipe below ground level, to the frost level. Methods for attaching heat tape to the pipe vary. Some types of heat tape wrap around the pipe, some run along one side of the pipe.
What to cover water pipe with?
If the insulation does not have a weather-protective outer surface, you will need to cover it with a waterproof wrap.
Can heat tape damage plastic pipes?
Non-automatic heat tapes can damage plastic pipes, especially if the taped pipes are covered with insulation. For this job you'll need automatic heat tape (the kind with a thermostat), electrical tape, and pipe insulation (which could take the form of a waterproof insulated pipe jacket, or pipe insulation with vapor seal cover).
Does heat tape work on pipes?
Because your safety is most important, check with the manufacturer or dealer to see if a certain heat tape will work on your pipes. Like anything, maintenance is necessary, but if used properly, heat tape can save many headaches during the winter months.”. Tweet.
Can heat tape be used over insulation?
Heat tape should not be used over the thermal insulation or near flammable materials. Check heat tapes at least once a year, paying particular attention to older tape which may develop cracks in the insulation. When you purchase a new tape, get the correct size for the intended job. Do not overlap heat tape over itself.
Can you use heat tape on a manufactured home?
Use only laboratory-tested heat tape, authorized for use with manufactured homes. Do not cross the heat tape back over itself. This could overheat the tape and start a fire. If your water supply piping is plastic, ONLY use automatic thermostatically controlled heat tape.
