We will be out of town for two weeks starting next week. We live in upstate NY and the temps have been single digits or below zero many times recently.

I believe the heating tapes to prevent freezing of water lines use low voltage. Can I leave them on continuously while we are away? The tape is only used on the two h/c water lines in the outside wall that goes up to the 2nd floor.

Thanks,

Bob

It would be no different than if you leave them on continuously while you are home. There is a thermostat on the heat tape that monitors the temperatures and brings them on accordingly. Have you considered moving these freeze-prone water lines to an interior wall to avoid the use of heat tapes altogether?

m & m (MD):

The only thing I know about the heat tape is that there's an electrical switch on the wall that turns it on/off. Other than that, I have no idea re the thermostat. Is that a standard setup? There is also a removable panel near the switch that I never opened up.

Also, no idea of the expected life of heating tapes. LOL Is there an industry standard for this?

We've been in the house for six years now and haven't had a problem with frozen pipes for the second floor powder room. I guess the tapes are working as we had a low overnight temp two weeks ago of minus 27 degrees (without the wind chill which was 38 below!).

Relocating the pipes is something I'd rather not do as long as the heating tapes work.

Thanks Again,
Bob

I choose Heat Cord, by Frostex, rather than heat tape. Heat tape, is applied along the top or bottom, the length of a pipe.

Heat Cord, is wrapped around the OD of the pipe. Heat Cord can be double and triple wrapped to cover more area. You can add insulation to the cord wrapped pipe as well. The entire heat cord does not heat up. Only the area exposed to the lower temp does, thus making it more energy efficient. Check out the difference before you invest.

Best Wishes

Thanks, Wheelchair. I'll look into that.



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