With the onset of frost, the pipeline is exposed to low temperatures. Moreover, severe cold can not only freeze the liquid inside, but also cause numerous breaks in communication. To protect yourself from possible troubles in the form of a lack of water supply, it is better to place the pipe in the heating cable. But first, you need to understand the device, find out its features and how it works.
Content
- Varieties of wire
-
Installation methods
- Inside the pipe
- Outdoor option
- Insulation material
Varieties of wire
The heating cable is intended for communications located not too deep in the ground or even laid on the surface, in fact, those wires that do not warm up in winter. Therefore, many owners of private houses have to deal with heating the water supply on their own.
Heating of pipes occurs due to heating conductors and other conductive insulating elements. It functions only after connecting to the power grid, after which it begins to give off heat to the environment. There are various models and can be installed on top or inside.
There are two types of pipe heating cable:
- resistive;
- self-regulating.
In the first case, the property of metals is used, which heats up under the influence of an electric current. It is the metal conductor that is heated in this wire. It is important that the amount of heat generated by them is always the same, no matter what the temperature is outside. Since the pipes no longer need strong heating in spring and autumn, special thermostats are installed on the system, with the help of which the degree is regulated.
When installing resistive wires, do not lay them too tightly to each other, and you also need to make sure that they do not intersect. Since in such a situation they overheat quickly enough, which leads to their breakdown. It is also worth adding that such material cannot be cut, therefore, if a whole coil of cable is purchased, it will need to be laid entirely.
Self-regulating wire is presented as metal polymer matrix, which works due to the fact that a current passes through the cable, which heats the polymer. The material itself is located between the conductors. The polymer material regulates the temperature on its own, for which it got its name.
There are several advantages of such a wire:
- does not burn out;
- fits in any form;
- can be cut to the required length.
The disadvantages include only the cost, it is quite high, although the operational period fully justifies the financial costs. If you follow all the rules, then the products will last 10-12 years.
Installation methods
There are two ways to lay the heating cable for pipes: outside or inside. Moreover, each type has its own wire and its own laying technique. How to mount the system is detailed in the technical data sheet.
Inside the pipe
It is possible to install a heating wire inside the pipeline. In this case, it must meet the following requirements:
- electrical protection not less than IP 68;
- the end sleeve must be sealed;
- the sheath that covers the veins must not emit harmful substances.
To lay the cable inside, it is necessary to install a special tee at the end of the pipe. Then, using a gland, usually included in the kit, the wire is inserted.
You also need to pay attention to the fact that the coupling must be located outside the pipeline and the gland, as it is not adapted to a humid environment.
The tee itself can be installed at absolutely any angle of the outlet, it can be 90, 120 and 180 degrees, in which case the cable does not need to be fixed, it will be enough just to tuck it in.
Outdoor option
The outdoor heating cable is fixed a little differently, it must fit snugly against the pipeline. If metal pipes are installed, then initially they should be thoroughly cleaned of dirt and rust, wipe the welding places so that they cannot damage the conductor. And after that, the wires are laid, while they need to be fixed at a distance of 25-30 cm, this is done using metallized adhesive tape; you can also use plastic clamps.
There is another installation option: the heating wires are laid in a spiral, but care must be taken that the cable does not have sharp bends and multiple bends. It is easiest to unwind the sleeve and then carefully wind the loose wire around the pipe.
If you plan to heat a plastic water pipe, then you first need to glue it over metallized tape, as it increases thermal conductivity, heating in this case will be more intense.
Insulation material
In addition to the heating cable, it is necessary to additionally insulate the pipes. It is impossible to use mineral wool for this, the fact is that in a wet state it completely loses its thermal insulation capabilities. At the same time, in cold weather, it freezes and simply crumbles into dust. And since it is not possible to provide a dry environment around the pipes, it is better to refuse such a heater.
You should also not purchase a material that tends to shrink under the influence of gravity, since this also affects thermal conductivity. If the pipes are located in a special sewage system, nothing presses on them there, then use such insulation is allowed, but if the pipeline runs just underground, then it needs a tough thermal insulation.
Experts advise using expanded polystyrene as insulation. It has excellent thermal insulation characteristics, it is not afraid of high humidity or dampness, it is able to endure even critical loads.
