Water heating cable
Freezing water supply is fraught with unpleasant consequences. Icicles that form in pipes can in some cases reach several meters in length. And to eliminate such traffic jams, you have to make great efforts. If you know firsthand the harsh winters, you should solve the problem in advance. Conventional thermal insulation is ineffective during prolonged frosts and low temperatures, and therefore an additional option has to be sought. The best solution in this case is a heating cable, which is able to maintain the desired temperature, as well as provide good heating and reliable protection against condensation.
Content
- Heating cable function
- Design, use priorities
- Water heating cable: classification
- Installation and styling options
- Proper selection – rational use
Heating cable function
For a long time in everyday life, special wires have been used to heat the sewer and water supply systems. The heating cable is the most common cable with adjustable electrical resistance, which is designed to regulate the heating of the cable itself.
Ways to install a heating cable
The heating cable for gutters is recommended to be used so that water at freezing temperatures does not freeze in areas that pass along the street. The wire must be turned on when the air temperature drops to 5 degrees Celsius, because in case of further cooling, the system will protect the water supply from freezing. But if you turn on heating already at sub-zero temperatures, it will take time for the frozen liquid to thaw. And while the water will melt, the pressure in this water supply will decrease.
Design, use priorities
The heating cable for pipes consists of several elements that are connected into a single product. This is a plug, cold (electric) and hot (heating) conductors, as well as a temperature limiter. Conductors are interconnected by laser soldering.
The device of the heating cable for outdoor water supply
The external insulation of the cable is seamless, therefore it is ideally protected from moisture, high temperature and chemical influences. The temperature limiter is responsible for the temperature of the pipe and power off when exceeding 15 degrees Celsius.
After cooling to 5 degrees, the power turns on again. Thus, the surface of the water supply system does not overheat, while the energy savings are maximum.
This is useful to know! Previously, the heating wire was used exclusively for industrial purposes for heating pipelines. And only recently, such cable heating systems began to be applied everywhere in the household.
The main advantages of using a heating cable:
- Reliability. Proper calculation and proper installation of the heating system will prevent freezing of the water supply throughout the entire time of use.
- Safety. The heating wire can be used to heat pipes with drinking water..
- Universality. You can connect the self-regulating heating cable to the pipeline, which is located outdoors or underground. The cable is laid on the surface of the water supply system or inside the pipe.
- Ease of use. Connecting the product is very simple: the heating wire is fixed to the water supply network, then the plug is plugged into the outlet.
- Profitability. The heating power can be adjusted independently, focusing on the temperature of the environment where it is located.
Water heating cable: classification
Heating wires for water supply have a developed nomenclature. They are classified according to the heat release scheme into self-regulating and resistive, as well as products with mineral insulation.
Heating resistive cables are divided into zonal and linear. In linear models, heat is released when a current passes through a heating core. A cable can be single- or two-core, and may also have several strands of spiral or linear shape. Arbitrary cutting of such a cable is not allowed.
The principle of operation of a self-regulating heating cable
By design, the self-regulating heating cable resembles a resistance cable. It also has two conductive wires, but there is no insulating coating. The heat dissipation of the product along the length may vary. With increasing ambient temperature, the polymer resistance increases, and the heat release decreases. So the effect of self-regulation is manifested, in which burnout and overheating of the product does not occur. Self-regulating heating cable can be cut into sections, which have a length of 20 centimeters to several meters.
Installation and styling options
Water pipe insulation is one of the most difficult tasks that requires an urgent solution. The heating wire is used as a sewerage and water supply heater. By changing the degree of resistance of the structure, you can change the temperature created by cable heating.
Mounting options for the wire outside the inside of the pipeline
You can install a heating cable inside the pipe or outside.
But in any case, the cable must be selected so that the heat loss of the water supply does not exceed the heat that is released by the system.
Spiral heating cable mounting
The cable should be laid in several parallel rows. A spiral laying method is also practiced. To ensure fastening, you need to use a tightening metal mesh or adhesive tape. Outside, a pipe with a heating cable must be wrapped with foil. It is more advisable to entrust the installation of a heating cable to specialists.
Proper selection – rational use
Choosing a heating wire should be based on the tasks that the heating system will solve. By the way, heating cables are intended for domestic use in suburban areas, in cottages and private homes. Also, similar products are used in heating systems of municipal importance – protection of sewer systems, drains and water pipes from freezing. For such use, you need a small system.
Heating cable and sleeve for domestic use
As practice shows, for the above purposes, a heating cable for water supply with a capacity of more than 50 – 60 watts per meter is suitable. But the extra power is literally wasted money. The indicated capacity will be enough to melt ice and snow, as well as save. A powerful heating cable for sewers or drains consumes a lot of electricity, which you have to pay for.
This is useful to know! The self-regulating cable, which is very popular today, usually has two main indicators – operating power and power at rest. Both indicators are indicated on the surface of the cable..
Thus, the importance of a heating cable for water supply systems, drains and sewers is on the face. Choose the right wire to forever forget about the freezing of the water supply and low water pressure!
