How to Use Heat Tape to Protect Pipes From Freezing
Installing heat tape on your pipes during the winter can save you hundreds of dollars. This simple step will help protect your exposed pipes during winter and help prevent a pipe from bursting. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Purchase more heat tape than you think you need. The last thing you want to realize is that you don't have enough tape when you are almost finished with the job. Measure your exposed pipes and make sure to buy a little bit extra.
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Place the heat tape around the pipes. You can either lay it in a straight line or wrap it around loosely. Make sure you never wrap the tape over itself. Hold it in place with electrical tape spaced every foot or so along the pipe. Follow the heat tape manufacturer's guidelines on how to lay it on the piping and the spacing suggestions for the electrical tape.
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Protect the heat tape by wrapping pipe insulation or pipe jacketing over it. Even though the heat tape will protect your pipes form bursting, you need to protect the tape itself.
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Plug in the heat tape to a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) receptacle. Make sure to use the tape only when you need to. If the temperature is above freezing, then you can unplug your heat tape.
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Tips & Warnings
Never wrap the heat tape over itself, which is a fire hazard. Only use electrical tape to secure the heat tape in place. Check the heat tape at least once a year for cracks in the insulation.
