Skip to Navigation
Skip to Content
Home
>
Support
>
Frequently Asked Questions
> Pipe Tracing F.A.Q.
Literature
|
News
|
About Us
Search
Products
Support
Specs/Cad
Sales Reps
Case Studies
Sustainability
Contacts
My Project
Pipe Tracing F.A.Q.
Can I spiral wrap cable around the pipe?
Do I need to heat trace valves, supports, etc.?
Does the type of insulation that I use affect my heat loss?
Is insulation really necessary?
Do PVC pipes have any special requirements?
Do I need a temperature controller?
Can I spiral wrap cable around the pipe?
Spiral wrapping uses more cable than a straight run down the length of the pipe. Spiralling an oval cable or even a round cable of any length can be physically difficult, tedious, and frustrating. We recommend installing straight runs at the four or eight o’clock positions on pipes and spiral wrapping only the flanges, valves, etc. On PVC pipes aluminum heat transfer tape should be applied under and over the straight run of cable to distribute the heat.
Do I need to heat trace valves, supports, etc?
Yes. These are major sources of heat loss.
Does the type of insulation I use affect my heat loss?
Yes. Insulations have different properties and temperature ratings and therefore heat loss will change depending upon the insulation. We calculate our heat loss based on the I.E.E.E. 515.1 standard which assumes a 1/2" of fiberglass insulation with a k-factor of .25 at 50°F, and 20 M.P,H wind speed. If you're using a different insulation or thickness you'll need to supply us with that information so that we can adjust the heat loss accordingly.
Is insulation really necessary?
Yes. Without insulation your pipe heat loss will be high, your heat trace system may not work, and you will incur high operating costs.
Do PVC pipes have any special requirements?
Yes. You need to know the maximum temperature rating of the pipe material and check that the cable sheath temperature doesn't exceed it. We recommend installing our aluminum heat transfer tape under the cable on PVC pipes to help dissipate the heat.
Do I need a temperature control?
Yes. We always recommend using a temperature control to minimize operating costs, avoid overheating, and to maintain a more precise temperature. We have several controls that we recommend based on your application.
With self-regulating cables we recommend installing an ambient thermostat for freeze protection because these cables will vary their wattage output in response to changes in ambient temperature.
With constant wattage cables we recommend a line sensing thermostat with an RTD placed under the insulation to sense the exact pipe temperature for precise temperature control.
Supporting Content
Pipe Tracing F.A.Q.
Snow Melting F.A.Q.
Floor Warming F.A.Q.
Roof Deicing F.A.Q.