What Is a Pipe Heater?
A pipe heater is a heater that heats the liquid flowing inside a pipe to prevent it from freezing. It is also known as an anti-freeze heater or anti-freeze strip.
A pipe heater is used especially for water pipes and is indispensable in cold climates where temperatures are below freezing. When water pipes freeze, not only does the water supply become unavailable, but the volume of water expands as it freezes. This can deform the pipes, or in the worst-case scenario, cause them to burst. A pipe heater is used to prevent freezing by heating water pipes.
Uses of Pipe Heaters
Pipe heaters are often used in cold regions to prevent water pipes from freezing.
In particular, water pipes that are not buried underground but exposed to the ground must be protected from freezing by pipe heaters.
At this time, if the appropriate one is not selected depending on the material of the water pipe, it may end up damaging the pipe.
In the past, water pipes were mainly made of metals such as copper pipes, but in recent years they have been replaced by PVC and polyethylene pipes and other resin-based materials. Pipe heaters have also been improved in line with these changes in the materials used for water pipes.
Structure of Pipe Heaters
Pipe heaters consist of a heating element and a power cable.
Heating Element and Power Cable
The heating element is made of nichrome wire, etc. Joule heat is generated when an electric current is applied through the power cable. The power cable may come with an energizing lamp or a power lamp to confirm that the heater is not disconnected.
A band-shaped heating element portion, like a flat cable, is wrapped around a water pipe to heat the water in the pipe. By wrapping a heat-retaining tape over the wrapped heating element, the heating element and water pipe can be firmly fixed and the pipe can be efficiently heated.
Combination With Pipe Heaters
Pipe heaters are often used in combination with thermostats. Using a thermostat has two advantages: it allows temperature control and saves on electricity costs by heating only when necessary.
Thermostat Detection Methods
There are two types of thermostats: the outside temperature sensing type and the pipe temperature sensing type.
The outside temperature sensing type reacts to the outside temperature and does not need to be attached to the piping, making it easy to install, but it may continue to heat the water excessively, even if the water inside is sufficiently warm.
On the other hand, the piping temperature sensing type measures the pipe temperature, so there is no need to worry about excessive heating. However, the piping and the thermostat must be tightly adhered to one other, and careful attention must be paid to the installation.
How to Select Pipe Heaters
There are many types of piping heaters available, but the heater must be selected, along with the material and length of the piping to be installed.
Another criterion for selecting a pipe heater is whether the power cable comes with an energizing lamp, a power light, an energy consumption indicator monitor, or a thermostat.
One thing to keep in mind is the material of the piping and the way the heating element is coated. For example, if the piping is made of resin, such as cross-linked polyethylene pipe, and the heating element is coated with soft polyvinyl chloride, the plasticizer will migrate and cause the piping to become brittle.
Therefore, be sure to select a product that has countermeasures for the covering of the heating element.
Self-Control of Pipe Heaters
Self-controlled heaters without thermostats have become popular in recent years. This type of heater does not require the use of a thermostat and will not fail due to abnormal heating or burnout of the heating element. The heating element is designed to heat in accordance with the ambient temperature automatically.
There are also heaters available that are configured in parallel circuits, allowing for cutting and other processing on site. Self-controlling heating resistors are used as heating elements.
Furthermore, the heater can be operated economically with energy savings due to fewer attached devices, and it also has excellent quietness.
However, electricity costs are incurred because current continues to flow while the unit is connected to a power source.