I've got a situation where heat trace was installed on drain pipes for an elevated podium walkway. It was installed about 12 years ago, and I've been told that it never worked properly. My question involves the design of such a system. There is no heat trace in the walkway itself, just the drain pipes. This walkway is about 16-18 feet wide and hundreds of feet long. Now, in order for this system to work properly, I contend that heat trace is needed in the walkway as well as on the drain pipes. I'm not 100% sure on that, hence my question. Can this work well the way it is designed now?
Drain Pipe Heat Trace
- Thread starter A-1Sparky
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Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
The heat element's (tape) would need to be in the walkway material.
Their are good products on line.
It sounds like what you have described was plumbers heat tape.
http://www.tycothermal.com/usa/english/snow_melting/applications/default.aspx
Try this link
Their are good products on line.
It sounds like what you have described was plumbers heat tape.
http://www.tycothermal.com/usa/english/snow_melting/applications/default.aspx
Try this link
So this was a poor design from the get-go? The customer wants me to repair the heat trace, and is convinced that doing so would keep the walkway from icing up. I told him that in order for that to happen, they would need to install heat trace in the walkway as well. Does that sound about right?
weressl
Esteemed Member
Somewhat confused on the objective of the heat tracing here.
Heat tracing is commonly refered to as a means of preventing heat loss from an insulated piece of object.
It seems that the objective of the OP project is to:
- Keep ice off of the walkway
- make sure that the drainage does not freeze, plug up.
Failed heaters would also need to be replaceable.
Buck Parrish
Senior Member
- Location
- NC & IN
Yes , That is only common sense.
It sounds like, as weressel said the heat tape was to prevent the drain from freezing. That is kind of important , too. Esspecially , well I'll just leave it at that.
luckyshadow
Senior Member
- Location
- Maryland
It has been my experience with elevated platforms and walkways, to put heat trace cable on the drain traps and any exposed drain lines,along with a good quality insulation.
You put the heat trace cable on the trap because the drain trap is just that a trap. There is always (almost always) water in the traps. This creates a block to keep the sewer gases from escaping up through the drains. Should these traps freeze the drains do not drain and the water backs up on the surface which will create ice on the walk ways.
So Yes I can understand what your customer is asking. Ask the customer if he is concerned about frozen drains creating a back up which would freeze.
You put the heat trace cable on the trap because the drain trap is just that a trap. There is always (almost always) water in the traps. This creates a block to keep the sewer gases from escaping up through the drains. Should these traps freeze the drains do not drain and the water backs up on the surface which will create ice on the walk ways.
So Yes I can understand what your customer is asking. Ask the customer if he is concerned about frozen drains creating a back up which would freeze.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
It sounds like that's his only concern. Tell him the walkway needs to be kept above 32F, too.
Yeah, that's my concern. He thinks that by replacing the heat trace on the drain pipes, that alone will be enough to keep the walkway from freezing up. I told him that it would definitely help, but he would also need to heat the walkway to prevent it from icing over. Thanks for the help, guys.
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