Frozen icicles on a gray pipe

When winter temperatures plummet, frozen pipes can quickly become a homeowners’ worst nightmare. They can disrupt your water supply and cause expensive damage to your home if the pipes burst.

Fortunately, homeowners can employ a practical and effective solution to keep this problem at bay. Heat tape is an innovative solution designed to prevent frozen pipes, giving you ultimate peace of mind even on the coldest days of the year.

In this blog post, the home service experts at Whipple Service Champions explain what heat tape is, how it’s commonly used, and why it’s important to trust a professional with your installation needs.

What Is Heat Tape & How Does It Work?

Heat tape is a specialized product that offers consistent warmth to pipes, preventing freezing during cold weather. It’s not actually tape but rather an electrically powered cable that can be wrapped around or placed alongside pipes for added protection.

Types of Heat Tape

There are two primary options when it comes to heat tape installation, including:

  • Self-regulating heat tape: This type automatically adjusts its heat output based on the surrounding temperature. It’s energy-efficient and reduces the risk of overheating, making it a popular option for homeowners.
  • Constant wattage heat tape: This type provides a steady level of heat regardless of the temperature. While effective, it requires more careful monitoring to prevent overheating and potential fire hazards.

By choosing the right type of heat tape for your needs, you can ensure your pipes remain safe all winter.

Common Uses for Heat Tape

Heat tape is most commonly used to protect pipes from freezing, particularly in areas prone to extreme winter weather. Here are some places where heat tape is most often applied:

  • Exposed pipes: Pipes in unheated areas like basements, crawl spaces, garages, or attics are particularly vulnerable to freezing. Heat tape can effectively safeguard these pipes.
  • Outdoor pipes: Pipes running outside your home, such as those supplying water to outdoor faucets or irrigation systems, are prime candidates for heat tape installation.
  • Mobile homes: Heat tape is often used in mobile homes to protect pipes beneath the structure from freezing on the coldest days of the year.

For the best results, apply heat tape directly to the pipe’s surface and ensure it’s secured according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Why Heat Tape Is Beneficial to Utah Homeowners

Winter weather can be unpredictable, with fluctuating temperatures that cause pipes to freeze and thaw repeatedly. Heat tape offers a reliable solution for this problem, offering key benefits such as:

  • Protection from burst pipes: By preventing freezing, heat tape minimizes the risk of costly water damage caused by burst pipes.
  • Energy efficiency: Self-regulating heat tape ensures you use just the right amount of energy to keep your pipes warm.
  • Convenience: Once installed, heat tape requires minimal maintenance, providing a set-it-and-forget-it solution for winter pipe protection.

Why Hire a Professional?

While heat tape may seem simple to install, hiring a professional is the best way to ensure a safe and effective setup. Professionals understand the nuances of heat tape installation, including proper placement, insulation, and electrical connections. Incorrect installation can lead to overheating and potential fire hazards.

Professionals know how to mitigate these risks and keep pipes safe. DIY errors can result in inefficient heating or damage to your pipes and property. With professional installation, you can ensure your heat tape works as intended.

Trust Whipple Service Champions for Heat Tape Installation

When it comes to protecting your home from frozen pipes, Whipple Service Champions has a highly trained team of technicians you can trust to get the job done right. We specialize in heat tape installation, offering expert knowledge and superior service to keep your home safe all winter.

Don’t let freezing temperatures catch you off guard — contact us to schedule heat tape installation and enjoy a worry-free winter.