With the onset of cold weather, various types of pipelines are exposed to low temperatures. Frost is able not only to forge fluid inside, but also to break the communications material. To avoid lengthy repairs and problems with water supply, sewage and other systems, a heating cable is installed in the pipe. This device allows you to heat industrial and domestic pipelines, tanks. To choose the right heating cable, as well as to operate it efficiently, you need to know the device and the features of such systems.
Wire function
The heating cable for heating pipes is designed for communications that lie at a shallow depth, pass on the surface or in sections of buildings that are not heated. This is where the help of the presented device is required. The cable consists of heating cores, various conductive and insulating materials. A cold wire with a plug is supplied to it. When the system is connected to the network, heat enters the environment. In this case, the cable can be installed both on the surface of the pipe and inside it.
Wire device
When installing a heating cable in a pipe , it is necessary to understand its structure. For such purposes, a self-regulating wire is used. It looks like a ribbon cable. It runs 2 veins, between which is a special material. This is a polymer semiconductor matrix. She acts as the core of the cable system. A feature of such a matrix is the continuity of its heating in each section. This makes it possible to cut the wire at any desired location.
Also, the semiconductor material provides a reaction of a change in the temperature of heating of the cable when cooling or heating the environment. Moreover, this quality is characteristic for each part of the system. Adapting to the ambient temperature, the wire cannot overheat. Around the veins and the matrix is insulation. It provides dielectric strength, protection against mechanical stress. Adverse environmental conditions also cannot damage the internal cable system.
Application area
The heating cable inside the pipe or on its surface is able to protect communications from freezing. Previously, they were most often used in industrial needs. Similar systems were installed on water supply or sewage networks in open areas. Further, the owners of private houses became interested in the presented products. Recently, a system is increasingly being acquired that is not mounted on a pipe, but directly on it. This allows you to achieve a good result with minimal energy consumption. The cable, which is mounted inside the communications, is applicable exclusively to water supply systems with drinking or industrial water.
System benefits
The heating cable for the water supply inside the pipe has many advantages for communications. If there is such a heater inside the networks, the system will be durable and reliable. In this case, water communications can be mounted above the level of soil freezing.
When choosing a quality product, the owner of a private house can count on the long life of the system. No condensation will form on the pipes. Therefore, their surface will not undergo rapid destruction. The life of the self-regulating wire reaches 40 years. At the same time, it consumes a minimum amount of electricity. It starts to work only when the ambient temperature drops. If it is above +15 ° C, the wire itself ceases to function. Therefore, you can forget about interruptions in the water supply system.
Installation inside the pipe
When deciding to install a heating cable in a pipe , you should remember about some features of this process. This type of installation is ideal for property owners who already have plumbing installed. If the pipes freeze in the winter, you can purchase the presented system and install it directly inside the networks. To reduce heat loss, it is necessary to equip the pipe insulation. Its thickness is selected in accordance with the diameter of the communications. For pipes with a diameter of ½ or ¾ inch, a thermal insulation layer of at least 20 mm is suitable. If the diameter is even larger, this figure increases proportionally.
The better the insulation, the less power the wire consumes. A wide selection of special heaters for pipes is on sale . If desired, you can purchase rolled varieties of materials. They will also be able to perfectly insulate communications.
Selection process
There are several features that a heating cable has for heating pipes. Choosing the right variety is quite simple. First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to the scope of the product, which was designated by the manufacturer. A self-regulating wire suitable for drinking communications must have a certificate of compliance with food requirements. Their insulating material is made of a polymer containing fluorine.
Next, you need to determine the required system power. It depends on the diameter of the pipes, the amount of heat loss, as well as the material from which the pipes are made. The greatest power that such systems possess is 50 W / m. This variety is often used for industrial communications. For household purposes, 15-20 W / m system is quite enough for private real estate. Low-power versions of 7–9 W / m are suitable for the most narrow, well-insulated pipelines.
System installation
It is quite possible to install the heating cable into the pipe yourself. First of all, it is necessary to prepare the oil seal. Through it, the wire will be introduced into the pipe. If the cable slides down the system, it will not need to be fixed. But wanting to lift it up the pipe, it is necessary to prevent slipping. To do this, purchase a system with a rigid, reinforced shell. It will allow the wire to keep in shape.
Installation of the system is by no means carried out through shut-off valves. First of all, the length of the communications section in which the heating element will pass is measured. This segment is marked with a special inscription. Inserting into systems is done using fittings. Their threads must be closed with fum tape. This will prevent damage to the wire by the sharp edges of the fittings. Carrying out all the actions carefully, you can quickly and efficiently mount the system.
Manufacturer's choice
Self-regulating heating cable for pipes, the price and quality of which are correlated perfectly, are produced by brands such as Ensto, Lavita, Raychem. The most popular among these systems is the first manufacturer. Ensto (Finland) produces a self-regulating wire with a power of 9 W / m. Its quality and relatively low cost make the product a sales leader. The price for 1 m of the system is 630 rubles.
A cable from Lavita (South Korea) is also laid inside the pipes. Its cost starts at 200 rubles. for 1 m. But the quality of these systems is slightly inferior to the products of the Finnish manufacturer.
The average cost is characterized by products of the company Raychem (Belgium) - from 500 rubles. for 1 m. This is a pretty high-quality system. When installing a heating cable in a pipe , you should use the advice of experts. This will allow you to choose and install a quality system.