Can heat tape melt plastic pipes?
No. Not even close. Our cables operate at between 40ºF to 90ºF so they will not melt or damage any surface or material they come into contact with. Except chocolate. Our cables will thoroughly melt chocolate.
FAQ Category: Dry Pipe Installation
How much Pipe Freeze PRO heat tape do I need to protect pipes from freezing?
The amount of heat cable needed for pipe freeze prevention is determined by a couple of simple factors including: Length of pipe, diameter of pipe, distance to power supply and number of valves. We do not recommend a spiral cable application mostly because it’s simply not necessary. It requires 3x the cable to do the […]
Can you overlap Pipe Freeze PRO heat tape when installed on pipe?
Totally. Pipe Freeze PRO can be overlapped during installation. This is a fundamental advantage of self-regulating heat cable over cheap, constant wattage cable found in hardware stores is that it can be overlapped without risk of shorting out or catching fire. So yes, overlap away!
If Pipe Freeze Pro is Self-Regulating, why is there a thermostat?
The Thermostat keeps the heat cable turned off (and thus draw no power) until it detects temperatures below 37ºF. Once it turns on, the self-regulating aspect takes over and directs heat to the area(s) of the cable that are in contact with the cold. The thermostat should be positioned outside of the insulating layer so it […]
What do I do with the integrated Thermostat on PipeFreeze Pro?
Pipe Freeze Pro’s integrated thermostat turns power on and off automatically to the cable to save electricity. The thermostat is the lump located between the power cord and the heat cable. The thermostat triggers the cable to turn on at 37ºF and off at 50ºF, with a sensitivity range of +/- 4ºF. It’s a great feature […]
How do I wrap a valve with Pipe Freeze PRO heat tape?
Because our heat cable can be overlapped, there is no specific way to wrap valves. A simple loop of cable around the body of the valve will be enough. A couple things to remember. First, try to keep the cable in contact with the valve so the heat transfers effectively from the cable to the […]
What is self-regulating pipe heat trace?
Pipe heat trace cable is the same thing as heat tape or heat cable. The terms are used interchangeably to refer to a category of cables designed to keep water in pipes from freezing.
Can Pipe Freeze PRO heat tape be used on hot water pipes?
Sort of. Like Heat Tape Pro, Pipe Freeze Pro should not be installed on pipes that regularly heat up to over 150ºF as this may cause longterm damage to the heat cable. It therefore depends on how hot you have your water heater set to. On average, water heaters are set to about 140ºF to […]
How should I secure heat tape to pipes?
PipeFreezePRO comes with one or more 30ft tools of high-quality fiberglass tape, but you can use any tape with a minimum temperature rating of 176º F. Self-adhesive aluminum foil tape can be used but avoid standard tapes, including electrical tape and duct tape because they lose their adhesion when exposed to heat. Remember, it’s imperative […]
Can self-regulating heat tape be buried behind walls, inside home framing, inside concrete, etc?
No. Heat tape cables should not be installed in any permanently hidden areas.