Question on heat tape

320090T

Just bought an older house trailer for my step son, money well spent to get him outta my house. The previous inhabitants said the front ? bath's drain froze up in the winter so they just used the rear, which didn't freeze. Anyway, we are replacing the floors in that area and decided it might be a good time to correct that situation. My question, can heat tape be used with drain pipe or should we just wrap the crap out of it with foam? I have no experience with trailer homes so any help will be apprecaiated. Thanks!

fishkiller41

The pipe need not be pressurized for heat tape to work.

kumate

you can never overinsulate,yes you can use a heat tape but not recommended in totaly enclosed areas such as a floor.wrap with fiberglass strip then the foam and use plenty of duct tape around the foam to make sure it is air tight.Check under the house to see where the cold air gets in and fix it

jimdeere

quote:Originally posted by 320090T
Just bought an older house trailer for my step son, money well spent to get him outta my house. The previous inhabitants said the front ? bath's drain froze up in the winter so they just used the rear, which didn't freeze. Anyway, we are replacing the floors in that area and decided it might be a good time to correct that situation. My question, can heat tape be used with drain pipe or should we just wrap the crap out of it with foam? I have no experience with trailer homes so any help will be apprecaiated. Thanks!

Not to worry, you're gonna be a expert real soon.[:(]

Marc1301

You can use heat tape on pvc,.......in the trade we use it all the time in walk-in freezers.

Try insulating first, but if you need heat tape, run the windings about 6" apart.

team roper ozzy

buy the brand frostex...worth the additional price due to the quality..you can cross over the tape without the risk of shorting or fire hazard....i have fought many mobile home fires due to low end heat tapes..and they are not worth the risk as they short out quick and you will have to replace it time and time again...plus you can insulate over the top of the frostex brand..it is sold by the foot at alot of hardware locations...any exposed water or supply lines underneath should be winterized

Rebel_James

I don't think the drain would be freezing if it was steep to the ground inlet. Seems to me water would have to set in the pipe for it to freeze. I'd check the angle of the drain pipe first.

Just a thought.

.

1911a1-fan

quote:Originally posted by Rebel_James
I don't think the drain would be freezing if it was steep to the ground inlet. Seems to me water would have to set in the pipe for it to freeze. I'd check the angle of the drain pipe first.

Just a thought.

.






thats what i was thinking


does the trailer have skirting?

320090T

Yes is is skirted and I too believe the pipe doesn't have enough pitch but since the floor above it is going to be replaced, thought I'd make sure the freezing doesn't happen again. I don't think the pitch can be changed due to the long run fron the front to the back but will change it if possible. Funny jimdeere, funny!!

LesWVa

You should be ok using heat tape on PVC. I would check it often the first few days to make sure that it was not burning the pipe or causing any damage to them. Unless you want the step son to have to move back in..lol

Most water lines freeze right at ground level. While most drains freeze where water stands such as in the trap. When you insulate the water dig down about a foot below ground level and begin insulating. Same thing with the drains.

If you use Heat tape. Also place it below ground level on the pipe.

A lot of people here now take something like a 4' piece of thin PVC pipe, split it, place it around the water lines and stuff them full of insulation.