Hi my name is Robin and I'm the equipment sales manager here at Gregg
distributors. I'm also one of the many employee investors here. Because I'm an
investor I know just how much a frozen pipe can cost especially if it leaks, or
even worse, bursts. That's why on this episode of Gear Up With Gregg's we're
going to discuss freeze protection and how heating cables can save your pipes
and your wallet.
Here in Canada we're no strangers to cold especially when the normal winter
temperatures can range between minus 5 and minus 20 degrees Celsius and that's
just in the day! This means that pipes and fittings routed through unheated
areas in a building such as basements crawl spaces or garages are at risk of
freezing. One way to prevent frozen pipes is to install electric freeze protection
cables, like these. Freeze protection cables, also called heat cables or heat
tape, raise the ambient temperature of the pipe and prevents water inside from
freezing. The design of these cables allows them to turn on and off
automatically keeping things warm which ensures that water will be flowing
through your pipes in temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius. The key
to its efficiency lies in the thermostat. This thermostat saves energy by powering
the cable on only when it's needed. By placing the thermostat on the coldest
end of the pipe and ensuring that the thermostat is making direct contact with
the pipe itself, these cables will only turn on when the temperature dips below
3 degrees Celsius.
Installation of the heating cable is easy, especially because these cables
come in preassembled lengths from 3 feet to 80 feet and are ready to attach to
plastic or metal pipes up to one and a half inches in diameter. Start by
measuring the outer diameter of the pipe. Now, if it's more than one and a half
inches in diameter you will need to find an alternate way to keep the pipes from
freezing, such as extra insulation or continuous flow system. Next you want to
measure the length of your pipe. This will determine how much cable you need.
You won't need to account for extra cable length because this cable will lay
flat on the pipe. The reason you don't spiral or overlap it, is that it
could cause overheating and create a potential fire hazard in your home.
That's because the thermostat is your cable's on and off switch. So if your
cable is overlapping itself and it gets cold, the cable starts heating itself and
not the pipe. This means that the point where the cable is touching will get
hotter and hotter, eventually leading to a melted cable, arcing, and possibly
a fire. So with that in mind, the length of the pipe will be the length of the
cable you need as simple as that. Also a tip to keep in mind: for better heat
distribution on plastic pipes it's recommended that you wrap the pipes in
aluminum foil or aluminum tape before installing the cable.
Now, for the installation. Whether you lay the cable on the top or the bottom of
the pipe it's up to you however heat does rise so a lot of folks will tend to
put the cable on the bottom of the pipe. Remember to use the coldest end of your
pipe for the thermostat and to make sure that you've got a good direct contact.
Now secure the thermostat and then the cable to the pipe with the application
tape or high-quality electrical tape at 6-inch intervals. This will ensure that
your cable does not shift or move when you add insulation. Another fire risk you
want to be wary of is any materials near the pipe that may come into continuous
or prolonged contact with the heat cable you want to be sure that these materials
aren't flammable or you'll have a yet another hazard on your hands.
Adding insulation is as easy as wrapping the entire pipe and cable including the
thermostat with fiberglass or other non flammable insulation. If you're using a
foam tube style insulation you'll want to make sure that the sizing is one step
up from where you would normally be, to allow for extra room taken up by the
cable. So for a one inch pipe you'll want to go with a one and a quarter inch
insulation. Plug the cable into a 120 volt GFCI protected outlet and the
indicator light in the plug will glow to confirm that the cable has power.
What's a GFCI outlet? Well, GFCI stands for ground fault circuit interrupter and
it's designed to protect users against electrical shock from an electrical
system. A GFCI outlet will shut itself off after detecting a problem and it
should look familiar to you since you'll most commonly find these outlets in
washrooms, kitchens, garages and laundry areas.
Once you've installed your heat cable you want to regularly inspect it for signs
of damage or wear and tear. If the cable or plug seems damaged,
replace it. A properly functioning heat cable will keep your pipes warm and your
water running smoothly. Now if you have any questions about this or any other
product we carry please don't hesitate to give us a call, or you can visit our
website at greggdistributors.ca Myself or any of our other amazing staff
would be happy to help you. Again, I'm Robyn, and thank you for watching another
episode of Gear Up With Gregg's. Have a great Canadian day!