Customer Reviews

Easy Heat AHB-019 Cold Weather Valve and Pipe Heating Cable, 9 feet

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It hasn't been cold enough to use this yet, but I did install it. The directions say to keep the cable off the ground, but I wanted to use it on a pool pipe that was sitting on the ground, so I ran it along the side. You do need a few extra items before installing this. First, it says to wrap the pipe in aluminum foil if installing on plastic pipe (I didn't do this since the pipe is black and I figure it'll absorb heat just fine). Next, the cable has to be secured to the pipe every 6 inches with electrical tape rated at least 80°C. After that, you're supposed to wrap it in up to 1/2" fiberglass pipe insulation. Finally, you wrap the insulation in waterproofing material. I ended up needing a little under 50 feet of 1/2" fiberglass insulation wrap to wrap 12 feet of 1.5" pipe with 2 90 degree elbows and 2 large shut off valaves. The insulation was about $7 at Lowes and included plastic wrap to waterproof it. You will need some duct tape to secure the plastic in place.

For those wondering about the specs, the directions say the thermostat will kick on at 38°F and turn off once the pipe is heated to 45°F.

I am using this heat tape to keep a standpipe and spigot from freezing outside the horse barn. It must be laid flat on the pipe as opposed to twisting it around the length of the pipe. For a long running pipe, this is the correct unit, but be sure to order the proper length.

Used this on the water hose for my RV while camping in the snow. Great product. Took 2 people to get it on tight, but did the trick. Other campers' lines were freezing every night, mine stayed nice and warm. Had some extra to wrap around the faucet too. Was a long process - going to keep it on that water hose and make it my "winter hose". Worked fine with a PVC (or rubber - whatever it is called) drinking water hose - didn't melt it or get too hot. Shipping took quite a while but I got it just in time.

I have been searching for information about this cable pertaining to what temp it turns itself on, after reading the reviews stating that it doesn't say in the directions. I have found what I was looking for at the manufacturer website. Which states:

The thermostat turns the heating cable on when
exposed to temperatures below 38°F. It will shut the heating
cable off when the pipe has been heated to a temperature of
approximately 45°F.

I found this information from this link. [...]

I hope this helps any who are curious.
I haven't used this product yet, but have purchased it.

This prouduct is a heater designed to keep pipes warm during winter. I installed the wiring around my pool pipes, and then insulated the wire heater along with the water pipe as suggested in the installation instructions. The heater and insulation combination are doing a fine job and have protected my pool piping from freezing in 10 degree weather so far. I am pleased with the purchase, the promptness of shipping the heater, and the instructions for its use.

Heat tape is a great way to keep your pipes from freezing. It also provides a fast way to burn your house down if you install it improperly. Consumers frequently install the heat tape and then wrap the pipe in fiberglass insulation, which is fine, PROVIDED it doesn't have a paper or cardboard backing. You wouldn't wrap a 60W light bulb in paper backed glass, would you? Use unbacked fiberglass. Don't create hot spots by spiral wrapping the tape. Follow the directions -- buy several rolls of electrical tape to mount it, not duct tape, which often debonds when heated. Grounded, thermostatically controlled heat tape is a lot safer than the old, 2-wire stuff. Install it correctly and you'll avoid frozen pipes AND a visit from the fire department.

I've been using these pipe heaters for years. If they're installed properly they work great.They will last for years if they are unplugged as soon as the danger of freezing pipes passes. .

As an electrician have put in thousands of feet of this stuff,but for home use,this matches up with the best of them

I had this product for about a week. In that week it kept my pipes from freezing on both days that it was cold enough. After that however, I came home to find frozen pipes. I went to check out the situation and found that the heating cable had burned up. There were bare wires hanging about with no insulation. I unplugged it and tossed it in the garbage. I don't want this sort of thing burning my house down.

The Easy Heat tapes are great. We got them in just in time for this last cold weather snap. Wonderful product! Wish they made one as easy to lay down your driveway without having to cover them up.