Prevent Freezing: Best Practices for Heat Trace Installation

As the days start growing shorter and the outside temperatures drop, many people start to think about installing heat trace cables on piping, roofs, in barns, and around containers to prevent freezing. It’s important to know the best practices for heat trace installation.

1. Make sure the heating cable is in direct contact with the object to be heated.
2. Fiberglass tape should be used to secure heat trace to surface being heated. Aluminum tape can be used on pvc pipe to better distribute heat.
3. Use appropriate connection kits, tees, and end terminators for connecting power and adding take-offs.
4. When installing heat trace on pipes, the cable should be in the lower quadrants of the pipe, 4:00 and 8:00 for a double strand on horizontal runs, either 4:00 or 8:00 for a single. If more power is required, heat trace can be spiral wrapped.
5. Install extra cable around valves, flanges or other components that may require more power to be heated.
6. Use a temperature controller on constant watt cable or when self-regulating cable is attached to temperature sensitive materials.
7. For installation in hazardous areas, be sure to use approved kits.
8. Cover heating cable runs with insulation to save energy costs and prevent accidental burns.

1. Heat trace should never be installed in an area that is not readily accessible such as inside walls or ceilings.
2. Do not apply medium or high temperature heat trace on plastic or other materials that may be damaged by higher temperatures.
3. Don’t install cable at 6:00 or 12:00. Leaks may create problems at 6:00 and heat loss is greatest at 12:00.
4. If using constant watt heating cable, do not have the cable overlap itself.
5. Do not install cable that is damaged. This includes bus wires with broken or missing strands of wire.
6. Don’t use cable intended for dry areas to melt snow and ice.
7. Never use metal straps or other sharp objects to secure the cable in place.
8. Don’t locate connection kits, splices or tees in inaccessible areas.
9. Don’t exceed recommended maximum circuit lengths based on available current.

BriskHeat’s Heat Loss Calculator will help you determine the cable length and power output of cable for your application. The Freeze Protection Maintenance and Energy Efficiency Guide will help you design your system, and our Freeze Protection Catalog will help you select components. 

Need help picking the right self-regulating cable, controller, or other accessories to get the most out of your freeze protection setup? Just reach out to your BriskHeat Account Executive or an authorized distributor—they’ve got you covered.