Key Tips on How to Successfully Install Heating Cable using GET Kits
Winter is coming into full swing, and now is the time to make sure you're prepared for freeze protection. Don't wait until the temperatures wreak havoc on your home or business causing costly damage and downtime. Heating cable is one of the most important tools for preventing pipes from freezing and protecting roofs from ice damage and buildup. When it comes to using heating cable, understanding how to use GET kits is crucial to ensuring sucessfull installations. Whether your experienced at installing heat trace or it's your first time, this article has some tips to help improve your installation.
The Golden Rule of Heat Trace Termination: Isolation & Sealing
Before starting an installation, it's important to keep two fundamental principles in mind when applying a cable kit: isolation and sealing.
- Isolate Everything: When dealing with braided wires (ground) they must be isolated from the bus wires and the semiconductive core. Additionally, the two bus wires must remain isolated from each other. Failure to maintain this separation may lead to a short circuit and/or system failure.
- Keep Moisture Out: Every connection point must be sealed and free from moisture ingress. These dry connection kits are specifically designed to maintain this seal without relying on heat guns or sealants in harsh conditions.
- The Service Loop: It is always recommend to leave a service loop (a small length of extra cable) at every kit location. This loop provides the necessary slack to correct minor installation errors or replace damaged terminations.
Mastering the Crucial First Step: Cable Preparation
No kit will function or seal properly if the cable is not prepped correctly. This critical initial step is a common point of failure that requires careful, clean execution.
- Read the Instructions: Every heat trace kit has different dimensional requirements and component instructions. It is always important to review the provided instructions for the specific dimensional call-outs to ensure the outer jacket, inner jacket, and core are cut to the precise length.
- Light Score the Outer Jacket: When removing the outer jacket, always use a light score. Avoid cutting too deeply, as it risks damaging the braided ground wire underneath.
- Separate the Braid: Pull the cable through the braided wire to separate it cleanly and push the braid back.
- Clean the Inner Sleeve: Score the inner sleeve lightly, then bend the cable back and forth until the sleeve breaks cleanly at the score mark and can be removed.
- Expose the Bus Wires: Cut a small notch and carefully separate the bus wires from the inner conductive core. Clean up any excess core material to ensure a highly reliable connection.
GET-Kit Tips for Seamless Installation
The following G-E-T (Grommet End Termination) kits are favored in the field for their speed and reliability. For a quick and efficient installation, there are two key preparation steps that apply to all these kits:
- Pre-Install the Grommet: Always pre-install the rubber grommet onto the cable before stripping the wires. The tight fit required for watertight seal makes it nearly impossible to install the grommet after the cable has been stripped.
- Dimensional Accuracy is Key: Although the stripping technique is consistent, the exact length to strip the jacket and core varies by kit manufacturer and type. Technicians must confirm the dimensional call-outs from the kit instructions to ensure a perfect fit into the housing.
| Kit Type | Primary Function | Field Installation Note |
| JHS-GET: Inline Splice Kit | Joins two or more separate lengths of cable to extend a line or perform damage repair. | Ensure the bus wires are fully secured under the connection clamps before assembling the cap. |
| JHT-GET: Low-Profile End Seal Kit | Used at the end of the heat trace circuit, providing a simple, durable, and watertight termination. |
Once the cable is prepped, simply slide the grommet in place and screw in the end cap. |
| JHE-GET-Series: End of Circuit LED Monitor Light Kit | An end seal that provides instant, visual status feedback. | If the light is on, the circuit is running. If the light is off the circuit is dead, providing immediate visual confirmation for maintenance teams without testing. It also features a stand to be strapped securely to the pipe. |
Reliability Starts with the Prep
For anyone relying on pipe freeze protection, adopting easy-to-install, heat-free kits drastically increases system reliability. When installers take the time to isolate connections, follow dimensional call-outs, and utilize the crucial service loop, they build a robust system that stands ready against the harshest winter weather.
A clean, reliable installation means less troubleshooting, fewer emergency calls, and zero downtime for frozen pipes.
To get an in-depth view of the installation processes for each of these kits and how to prep cable – check out our BriskHeat Tech Talk below.
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