A cable for heating a water pipe is indispensable in some conditions. Indeed, in winter, outside the private houses, the water supply system quite often freezes. This can become not only the reason for the need for repairs, but also the replacement of the system. Among the most popular methods of heating pipes is cable.
Positive aspects of conducting insulation
If the heating cable is laid in the area of the location of the water pipes, this will eliminate the obstruction of the water due to its freezing in the winter. This also applies to pipes through which other fluids, such as oils, are transported. Among other things, hot water that flows through the taps of an apartment or house will have a high temperature. The surface of the pipes can also be protected from condensation and growths in the form of ice, which significantly prolongs their lifespan. If it is supposed to carry out heating even at the stage of laying the system, then it will not have to be buried unnecessarily, which reduces labor costs both at the initial stage of installation and when repair is necessary.
Features of cable heating pipes
It is quite easy to lay the cable for heating the water pipe, moreover, this will not make installation work too costly. You can use one of two laying methods. The first involves mounting the wire along the pipe, the second around. This will be influenced by the type of cable.
As a rule, the described heating system has some elements in its composition, among them we can distinguish:
- insulating tape;
- magnetic starters designed for installation in the interior of the control cabinet;
- cable;
- temperature regulator.
When buying a resistive cable, which consists of two cores, a temperature regulator is not useful. This is because such a cable has a connecting element that mates with the power cable and will operate at a given temperature.
Resistive cables are not very expensive, and even more convenient to use, they will maintain the temperature within +5 ° C, which will well affect the quality of the pipeline system.
When purchasing a cable for heating a water pipe, it is necessary to take into account not only the length, but also the required power. After all, the pipe will be effectively heated if the cable power is enough for its diameter. Also important are such parameters as the depth, length of the line, especially the external conditions, as well as the thermal conductivity of the insulation, which is used in tandem.
Features of the installation
The cable for heating the water pipe should be pressed against the pipe, fixing can be done using self-adhesive tape made of aluminum. In no case should resistive cables intersect; it is impermissible to leave the cable damaged. But self-regulating cables can be laid with intersection, this can be explained by the fact that they do not burn out. At the next stage, the pipes are wrapped with insulation material, and if there is a need, they are also waterproofed. Among other things, a temperature sensor should be attached to the pipe using adhesive tape. Experts advise to strengthen it in the upper part of the pipe, positioning between the heating cables.
The cable for heating the pipelines may become unstable during installation, if work is carried out in the cold season, in this case it is recommended to connect it before installation and allow it to warm up for some time.
Varieties of heating cables
You can purchase one of two varieties of systems for heating where a heating cable is used. The first of them has a self-regulating system. So, the self-regulating cable has heat-sensitive matrices that will allow you to adjust the power of the cable taking into account the degree of freezing of a certain section. This helps to eliminate overheating of the cable and prolongs its life. In addition, it is possible to save electricity spent on heating. The second type of system is resistive, but the former are used in practice much more often than the latter, because the latter do not have a self-regulation system. They use cables with constant resistance, which requires accurate calculations and professional styling, while in the process of using the system it will have to be monitored. A self-regulating cable costs a little more than a resistive cable , but when operating the latter, the costs are more.
Specialist recommendations
The heating cable can be laid not only according to the scheme described in the article, but also inside the pipe, as well as several cores parallel to each other. The tape used when attaching the cable must have the properties of heat resistance, instead of it you can use a steel tightening mesh. Next, it is necessary to strengthen the aluminum foil in several layers, which will ensure the effective distribution of the generated heat, in addition, this will exclude the interaction of the cable with thermal insulation.
Cast-iron water pipes can be heated with a cable used in tandem with a heater, which is often foam or mineral wool, it is also acceptable to choose other materials that have low thermal conductivity. Thermal insulation, as a rule, is equipped with a thickness ranging from 10 to 80 mm.
It is important to exclude the effect of water on the insulation, since moisture can reduce its effectiveness. It is necessary to provide access to the valves when installing the cable.
To control the system, it is recommended to use a traditional switch or thermostat.
Heating cable cost
Heating of water pipes with a cable, the price of which will depend on some parameters, can be done independently. You can purchase a cable at a price of 180 rubles.
After laying, it will be necessary to carry out backfill. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the system.