Simple Steps: How to Know if Heat Tape is Working
Trying to determine out how to know if heat tape is working is usually something people start stressing about right once the first big deep freeze is predicted. It's that nagging sensation you get whenever you're sitting upon the couch, hearing the wind howl outside, and wondering if those pipes in the crawl space are actually guarded or if you're going to wake up up to a frozen mess within the morning. Given that most heat tape is tucked aside in dark, cramped, or hard-to-reach places, you can't specifically just glance at it to see if it's doing the job.
The particular good news is that you don't want to be a professional plumber to verify that the system is functioning. Right now there are several low-tech and slightly higher-tech ways to examine the status of your heat wires before the temp hits single digits.
The Many Basic Test: The Touch Method
If you can safely reach the pipe where the tape is set up, the easiest method to check items out is basically to feel it. Now, don't go grabbing it blindly if you suspect there's a short or if the wiring looks frayed—safety first, always. Yet generally, if the particular tape has already been plugged in and the thermostat continues to be brought on by the cold, the cable ought to feel noticeably cozy to the contact.
It shouldn't feel "burning hot, " though. Many residential heat tapes are designed to stay at a consistent, moderate temp just high plenty of to keep drinking water from becoming ice. If you contact the tape plus it feels such as exactly the same temperature as the ambient air flow around it, something might be incorrect. However, keep within mind that numerous heat tapes have a built-in thermostat. If it's 50 levels Fahrenheit outside, the particular tape probably won't be warm since the thermostat hasn't told it to turn on yet.
Deceiving the Thermostat with all the Ice Cube Technique
This is one of our favorite "hacks" for testing heat tape during the make seasons or on a day that isn't quite freezing however. Most heat tapes have a small, orange or dark bulb-like component near the plug end—that's the thermostat. It's designed to only allow electricity to flow with the heating element when the temperatures drops below a certain point, usually around 35 to 40 degrees F.
If you desire to know if the tape is working while it's still relatively slight out, grab the plastic baggie and fill it which includes ice cubes and a little water. Tape that ice pack directly onto the thermostat messfühler and wait about 15 to twenty minutes. This "fools" the sensor into thinking winter offers arrived. After a bit of time, feel the entire cable further throughout the pipe. If it starts to warm-up, you're golden. If it remains cold despite the particular ice pack, the particular thermostat or maybe the heating element itself provides likely kicked the particular bucket.
Appearance for the Sign Light
A lot of modern heat tapes come with a tiny little "pilot light" or sign lamp, usually situated right on the plug itself. If that light is glowing, it means power is in least reaching the unit. It's an excellent first sign, yet don't let this offer you a false sense of security.
Simply because the light is on doesn't strictly mean the particular entire length of the cable is heating up. Sometimes the internal heating wire can crack or "burn out" somewhere along the line as the put still draws enough power to light up that little LED. It's a great starting point, yet you should still pair this with a physical check or a thermometer reading just to be certain the heat is actually transferring to the tube.
Using a Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer
If you're the type of person who wants gadgets—or if your own pipes are in the spot where a person really don't would like to crawl directly into the dirt—an infrared (IR) thermometer is a lifesaver. You can get these for the most part hardware shops for twenty or even thirty bucks, and they're incredibly helpful.
To use it, just point the laser from the heat tape and pull the particular trigger. If the tape is active, the display may show a temperatures significantly higher compared to the surrounding air or the un-taped areas of the pipe. This is especially helpful if your own heat tape is wrapped in efficiency. You can sometimes find a small distance in the insulation to take a reading, or even just check the surface of the insulation; if it's working, the efficiency itself will ultimately feel a several degrees warmer than the rest of the downstairs room or crawlspace.
Check Your GFCI Outlets and Breakers
Sometimes the issue isn't the heat tape at just about all, however the power source. Heat tape is notorious for stumbling GFCI (Ground Mistake Circuit Interrupter) outlets. They are those stores using the "Test" and "Reset" buttons. Mainly because heat tape lifestyles in damp conditions and relates to heat fluctuations, it could occasionally leak a tiny bit of current, which the GFCI sees as a danger and turns down.
Proceed to the store where the tape is plugged in create sure the particular "Reset" button hasn't popped out. If it offers, push this back in and see if it stays. If it trips again instantly, you probably possess a short within the tape, and it's time to replace it. Furthermore, check your main breaker panel. The heavy snowstorm or even a power surge can sometimes turn the breaker assigned to your outdoor or crawlspace outlets without you actually realizing it.
Visual Inspection regarding Physical Damage
If you're still unsure, it's worthy of doing a slow, regular inspection of the entire length of the cable connection. You're searching for a few specific warning flags: * Charred or discolored spots: This indicates the tape has overheated at some time or has the "hot spot" where the internal wires are failing. * Cracked outer casing: Through the years, the plastic or plastic coating can turn out to be brittle. If a person see cracks, dampness can get in, and that's a significant fire hazard. * Kinks or sharp bends: Heat tape shouldn't be folded back upon itself or pinched by pipe hangers. If it appears like it's been smashed, the internal electrical filament could be snapped.
If you discover any of these types of signs, don't even bother trying to "fix" it. Heat tape isn't actually a repairable product. It's a security device, and if it's compromised, the particular best move is to head to the store plus grab a fresh one.
How Long Does Heat Tape Actually Last?
A typical question people ask is why their tape stopped working in the first place. Generally, you may expect a good quality heat tape to final about 3 to 5 years. A few might last much longer if they're within a protected environment, but they don't last forever. The constant heating and air conditioning cycles eventually get a toll on the materials.
It's a great habit to treat heat tape as a consumable product. If yours is over five yrs old and you're struggling to determine how to know if heat tape is working, it may just be reaching the conclusion of its natural life. Replacing it before it fails completely is a lot less expensive than dealing along with a burst pipe and a bombarded basement.
What to Do if It's Not Working
If you've done the ice cube trick, checked the breakers, plus felt the wire, but it's still ice cold, you've got a deceased unit. First, try out plugging something else into the same outlet—like a light or a tresses dryer—just to 100% confirm the wall socket has power. If the lamp lighting up but the tape doesn't heat, the tape is definitely the reason.
When purchasing a replacement, make sure you measure the length of your tube carefully. You don't want to "overlap" the tape except if the instructions particularly say it's "self-regulating" tape. Standard heat tape can in fact catch fire if it's wrapped over by itself. Always the actual manufacturer's directions to the letter, because whilst these devices are basic, they do deal with electricity plus heat in limited spaces.
Using ten minutes to check your heat tape now, while it's still fairly comfortable outside, is one of these "future you" mementos that takes care of in a big way. There's nothing quite like the peace associated with mind that is included with knowing your plumbing is ready to handle whatever the wintertime throws at it.