In severe winter, it is not difficult to protect the water supply system from freezing, it is enough to use a heating cable that is installed inside the pipes or outside. The heating element prevents the formation and accumulation of ice hummocks, leading to unpleasant consequences, which in any case will need to be repaired - either repair damage or replace pipes broken by ice.
What is a heating cable?
The main principle of the heating cable is the conversion of electrical energy into heat. The main feature of these heating systems is that they only take energy and convert it into heat without the use of fuel or an oxidizing agent. Systems for heating pipes are heated by the action of an electric current passing through them and do not allow defrosting of external communications. Therefore, it is simply necessary to buy a heating cable for a water supply system in order to prevent a malfunction in the operation of the entire water supply network in the winter. The heating system for external pipelines involves the use of a wire with a tight, seamless, resistant to various influences sheath, which easily tolerates temperature changes. Inside the outer layer is a heating element. When the temperature drops, the heating cable is connected to the mains. The heating element is driven and heats the entire system. And when the ambient temperature rises, the power to the cable turns off, and the pipeline works as usual.
Why is it necessary to use cable heaters?
There are several positive aspects when using heating cables, here are the main ones:
- Saving. Connecting a heating cable allows you to adjust the heating power depending on the external ambient temperature. Plus, the need for food is regulated.
- Easy to use.
- Universality of the design: any pipeline located both outside and underground can be equipped with a cable heater.
- Safety of use: the insulation system is impeccable, it serves as reliable protection against external thermal, mechanical and chemical influences.
Types of heating cable
The main element of the cable heating system of pipes is a heating cable, which comes in two varieties:
- Resistive is a low-cost and easy-to-install heating cable that is most often used in everyday life for equipping underfloor heating systems and for heating small diameter pipes up to 40 mm.
- A self-regulating wire is used to heat containers and pipes with a diameter of 40 mm, as well as roofs, drains, electrical panels, etc.
Resistive heating cable
The principle of operation of this element is based on laying along the entire length of the pipeline of a special cable and sensors that respond to changes in ambient temperature. They periodically turn off and connect the heating system when a certain temperature is reached.
You can lay the heating cable with your own hands in different ways: parallel (tape) and spiral. The cable is attached to the pipes using aluminum tape. The main thing when installing the heating system is to prevent strong tension of the heating cable. Sometimes, for better contact and even heat distribution, it is recommended to wrap pipes and wires with several layers of aluminum foil. Also, to ensure more efficient operation, the system should be equipped with reliable thermal insulation, because if necessary, you will have to repair the heating cable with your own hands. The insulator is able to reduce the cost of electrical energy and reduce the rate of heat loss. As a heat-insulating material, you can use mineral wool, which has a fairly low coefficient of thermal conductivity.
Self-regulating heating cable
Now consider what a different kind of heating system is. A self-regulating heating cable is two insulated conductors located in a polymer that changes its resistance under the influence of a temperature difference. No sensors or electronic temperature controllers are needed. That is, as the ambient temperature decreases, the polymer resistance decreases, and the current increases, which leads to a greater amount of heat produced. With increasing temperature, the reverse process occurs.
This amount of heat depends on the reaction of the polymer to changes in the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere at a particular or specific point in the wire, and therefore it is different. Thanks to this feature, the self-regulating heating cable effective in use in various places and has a sufficiently long service life.
Reliability of isolation provides high safety of the heating cable and its profitability. If necessary, it can be cut into pieces of the right size, which does not affect its properties at all.
Advantages of self-regulating cables over resistive
- For resistive cables, it is important that the medium is uniform over its entire length, which is very difficult to do in practice. This often leads to overheating of the cable and the failure of the heating system. Where the heating cable was installed, the temperature automatically decreases in places with a smaller heat sink, while in other areas it remains unchanged.
- The self-regulating cable has a higher resistance to voltage surges and does not burn out if it is increased for a sufficiently long time.
- Resistive cables have a fixed length that cannot be changed, and self-regulating cables can be cut into pieces of the required size.
Installation of a self-regulating heating cable. Internal work
The self-regulating heating system can be mounted in two ways: inside and outside. High-quality work on the installation of the heating cable ensures uninterrupted and trouble-free operation of the plumbing, sewer or any other system.
Indoor installation is used for pipes of small diameter - up to 50 mm in the absence of direct access to the pipe itself. When the piping system is underground, the do-it-yourself heating cable is pushed into the pipe. Its length should be equal to the length of the water supply. Basically, this method is used when installing new pipes.
Heating cable: DIY DIY
With an external arrangement of such heating, the cable is fixed to the surface of the pipe. Moreover, its length may be equal to the length of the pipe, as well as exceed it. It depends on the installation method, that is, on what method the heating cable, the self-assembly of which was made, is attached to the pipes:
- Linear way. Cable length equal to pipe size. The number of threads of the heating element is selected depending on the required power.
- Spiral method. Cable length exceeds pipe length. It is laid around the channel in a spiral. This is the most expensive method of attaching an insulation device.
External installation of heating cables is the easiest and fastest way to equip a system for heating pipes. Sometimes it is more effective than external. Often, the cable laid inside the pipe defrosts the ice much faster than the one wound on the outside. But he performs his functions in any case.
Heating cable connection
First you need to bring the power from the electrical panel or outlet to the heating cable. When installing on pipes in a place far enough from the electrical panel, you must use the junction box. It is not difficult to connect a heating cable to the mains with your own hands. It is advisable to use the instructions that came with the product. The connection itself can be performed using either a simple terminal connection or using ready-made solutions for heating cables.
How to make a heating cable with your own hands?
You can buy heating elements in specialized or construction stores, but you should know that their cost is quite high. With some knack and certain technical skills, you can try to make a heating cable with your own hands. To do this, it is sufficient to use suitable material. A replacement for a branded heating cable can be a power telephone cable. It is similar to heating in shape and characteristics. This cable is thin, durable and tough. It has reliable insulation and can be used in wet environments.
It is clear that a heating system made of a telephone cable will be deprived of many important functions. For example, it will be impossible to implement a self-regulatory process. In addition, the system does not have special food insulation. However, all the above useful qualities are not particularly needed, so you can safely use a homemade heating cable. Do-it-yourself installation is not at all difficult. First determine the place of its laying - that is, outside the pipe. They attach the wire to the surface very tightly. A pipe with a cable is usually wrapped tightly with foil, over which aluminum tape is wound, it is he who presses the heating element to the base. Such heating for pipes can be arranged not only for water supply, but also for sewage. It is necessary to provide maximum protection for all heating cables, protect them from moisture. For this, heat and waterproofing can be used. For one-time or periodic work, a heating cable made of a power cable with your own hands can be used in the country or in a place where people live unstable.
In conclusion, we can say that a heating system for heating a water supply system, which is a heating cable, is its necessary component for full functioning during the year, and especially in winter.