Hopefully this page will help to answer your trace heating questions. If you would like any advice on your present or future heat trace and surface heating requirements, please don't hesitate to contact ESH Trace Heating Ltd.

1. Frequently Asked Trace
Heating Questions

2. Q. What is trace heating?
Electric trace heating, heat trace or surface heating, is the
application of a compensating heat source used to
temperature maintain or raise pipes, surfaces and vessels.
In the form of an electrical heating element, trace heating is
run in physical contact with the desired surface.

3. Q. How does trace
heating work?
Electric heat trace / surface
heating replaces the losses of
heat from a surface, to allow
temperature maintenance of
the product, which thermal
insulation alone can not
maintain.

4. Q. When is trace heating required?
Trace heating can be used to protect pipes from
freezing, maintain the temperature of a hot water
system, or maintain process temperatures for smooth
and efficient running of process plant equipment.

5. Q. Do I need to use
thermal insulation?
Thermal insulation is recommended on
all heat trace applications. Without
insulation surface heat losses can
increase approx 4-5 times.

6. Q. What is constant wattage
heating tape?
Constant wattage heating
tape exist in various forms, of
which the more recent zonal
parallel circuit devices are the
most convenient, since these
may be ‘cut to length’, within
practical limits, on site.
The output of constant
wattage tape is virtually
constant along the tape
length, due to the consistent
nature of the wire element.

7. Q. What is self regulating
heating tape?
Self regulating heating tape, also known as self
limiting, adjusts heat output to equal the heat loss from the
pipe work.
As pipe temperature falls under no-flow conditions or due
to the decreases in external or internal temperature the
electrical conductivity of the semi-conductive polymer core
increases causing the tape to increase output.
As the pipe temperature increases under flow conditions or
as a result of increasing external or internal temperature
the conductivity reduces and output decreases.

8. Q. Should I used a
thermostat?
Trace heating thermostats are
recommended for use with all surface
heating systems.
Temperature control can reduce system
operating costs by as much as 90%.

9. Q. Can I use trace heating to heat raise
pipes & vessels?
Electric surface heating (ESH) can be used
to heat raise pipes and vessels. However, it
is usually more economic to maintain
heating on a pipeline than to provide a
heating system designed to raise from
cold.
Where it is necessary to make provision for
heat raising the time allowed should
normally be in the range 12 – 24 hours to
avoid high loadings.

10. Q. Do I have to spiral
the trace heating onto
the pipe?
The application of the heat trace tape depends on the required wattage.
As ESH Trace Heating Ltd manufacture an extensive range of heating
tapes most applications can simply be straight traced, reducing costs
of materials and installation time without compromising on operational
requirements.

11. When using heat trace on plastic pipes ensure that the cable does not
exceed 12 watts per metre and is fitted with earth protection. The heat
trace tape should be used in conjunction with a thermostat.
NOTE: PVC cables and PVC fixing tape MUST NOT be used on PVC
pipes.
Q. Can I use heat trace on plastic pipes?

12. If the surface area of the pump is
substantially greater than that of
the adjoining pipework then extra
heating cable may need to be
considered (depending on
wattage of cable installed).
Pumps and valves may be heat
traced with extra heating tape to
allow removal of the valve or
pump.
Q. Do I have to
allow extra heat for
pumps & valves?

13. System checks depend on the system
installed, constant wattage systems can
be fully checked for insulation resistance
and continuity. Self regulating systems
can only be checked for insulation
resistance.
For assistance on system testing
please contact us.
Q. How do I test my trace heating
system is working properly?

14. Generally, no maintenance of our trace heating
systems is required but it is recommended that
the system is checked for operational and
electrical integrity periodically or prior to the
winter or production run, depending on
application.
Q. Does my trace heating system
require maintenance?