Are you a warehouse owner? If so, are you prepared for one of the biggest problems that could impact your space?
Owners know there’s a lot that can go wrong with warehouses and industrial spaces, such as poor roof drainage or damage to the walls from machinery, but one thing you may not have thought about is frozen pipes.
Frozen pipes can cause serious damage to the building, especially in cold climates. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to stop this from happening.
Read on to learn about the importance of electrical heat tracing, the best way to stop frozen pipes in your industrial space.
What Are the Dangers of Frozen Pipes?
The cold winter months can do serious damage to your warehouse if you’re not prepared. Icicles in winter can be particularly harmful to the structural damage to the property and freezing, chilly temperatures can lead to another big problem- frozen pipes.
Frozen pipes are common in cold climates, but they can do a lot of damage if left unnoticed. There are a few indicators that your pipes may be freezing — for example, if there is no running water, if you notice unusual smells, or if you notice frost on the exterior.
Frozen pipes often burst, which can create leaks, mold, flooding, and an expensive and unexpected repair bill.
Frozen pipes are especially common in warehouse spaces since they are so large and often not climate controlled as much as our homes. The damage from frozen pipes can cost your business both time and money, resulting in production loss and production damage, delays, and unexpected repairs.
How Can You Prevent Frozen Pipes?
Frozen pipes can be prevented with temperature control. Often, this can be done by keeping the thermometer at a set temperature, keeping doors and windows shut, and adding insulation.
However, in large or open industrial spaces, it can be much harder to control the temperature in the winter. A good solution to this is to install electrical heat tracing on your pipes.
What is Electrical Heat Tracing?
Electrical heat tracing, or heat trace installation, can be thought of as a ‘heating blanket’ for your pipes, keeping them at a comfortable temperature, even if the rest of the building is cold.
Heat tracing uses electricity to run along the length of the pipes, and the heat it generates maintains a consistent temperature. Heated cables are installed along on the pipes you wish to keep warm — as long as the electricity is connected, it will work to protect the piping system. The wattage of the electricity stays consistent, which keeps even temperatures on the pipes.
Steam heat tracing is sometimes used as well, but electric heat tracing is a reliable and effective method that works well, especially in large and exposed spaces.
Is Heat Trace Installation Essential?
All warehouse owners should consider installing a heat trace system in their space. If your space is hard to climate control, or you often have drafts, open garages or windows, or basement or attic spaces, definitely consider installation.
The system gives you peace of mind that your plumbing system is protected. Without it, you’re taking a gamble and you may find yourself stuck with emergency repair bills or water-damaged goods from flooding.
If your space is frequently left empty and unattended in winter, consider an installation as well. If the property is sitting vacant, you wouldn’t realize you had frozen pipes until the damage had already been done.
Is Electric Heat Tracing Safe?
Yes, electric heat tracing has been used on plumbing systems for a long time. It is recognized as a safe, reliable, and an effective solution to the problem of frozen pipes. Once set up, it doesn’t require much additional servicing.
Who Should Install It?
If you’re ready to install heat traced piping in your property, you may be curious how to get started. You may wish to do it yourself if you’re handy around the house, but for many warehouse spaces, this will be impractical due to the size of the space.
If your pipes are high up towards a vaulted ceiling, in a crowded basement, or otherwise har to access, you may wish to contact a professional installation team.
Accessing remote areas of the building may require ropes and climbing techniques to reach the pipes, so a trained team should come in to do the job safely, effectively, and to the highest possible standard.
You may wish to do the installation in summer or autumn so that you’re confident that it’s up and running correctly before you’ll actually need it.
What Maintenance is Required?
Luckily, heat trace installation requires little maintenance once properly set up. However, as with all systems, there are things you should do to ensure it is performing at its best.
To make things easier in the future, always keep service logs and records of your maintenance visits. This will make it easier to troubleshoot any problems down the track.
Also, try to do regular inspections of the heat tracing, to make sure they are not corrupted or damaged in any way, or loosened over time. Do checks of your electrical systems and all ground-fault breakers to make sure they are performing. If your electricity goes out, the heat trace system will stop working, something to keep in mind.
Another tip is to consider keeping a small stock of spare parts on-site, which will make it much simpler for any needed repairs.
Get Started
Contact us today to book in an electrical heat tracing system for your building. Our friendly and professional team are looking forward to hearing from you.
With a specialty of working in challenging and hard to reach areas, our team can install a system for you, no matter how high your building reaches.
This winter, make frozen pipes a thing of the past with a new heat tracing system. It will keep your building, your workers, and your investments protected.