i need to put insulation around a 3 inch PVC sewer pipe.. i got heat tape on it but i need to know ..?

Question

if that regular fiberglass with the silver foil backing is safe.. i got some on a roll it was high in price..its 1 inch fiberglass with foil on the back of it.. and the heat tape is under it.. is it safe?

i forgot but the pipe is under the floor in a crawl space so its out side i guess but in a dry place and where i live it gets real cold.. the heat tape has a thermastate on it also.. i wanted to know if it could make a fire.. thank u

i live in Canada and it gets around -40 somtimes.. last winter it froze up ..but i think because it was new pvc and it had stress on the "Y" where it comes out of the ground.. it broke off and it froze up from the end.. so then i put heat tape on it. then this year i wraped it in the foil fiberglASS its not pluged in i figure i would plug it in if it froze up again

Answer 1

Fiberglass insulation can be used with heat tape...even the foil backed... but a non-backed insulation is normally used, simply because it is less expensive.

Typically, pipe wrap insulation is wound around the pipe, secured every so often with a strip of electrical tape to hold it in place, and then covered with a plastic wrap, which is also taped in place. Normally, this is done on supply lines, which are only 1/2" to 3/4" diameter.... with a 3" drain line... you might seriously consider just using wall insulation. You can slip it over the pipe, lengthwise, rather than wrapping around and around the pipe. Then simply fold it over til it overlaps itself, and secure it with electrical or duct tape. This would not only be faster, and cheaper, but would provide more insulating value than the typical pipe wrap. I would follow up with a layer of 6mil plastic to act as a moisture barrier, again sealed with duct tape.

Drain lines are not normally heat taped and insulated, so if you are doing yours because it has frozen in the past, I'd seriously consider going with the wall batten insulation.

Good Luck

Answer 2

Pvc Pipe Insulation

Answer 3

I take it this pipe is indoors, exposed, and causing a cold-spot? What you have is great for the job. To be safe, wear rubber gloves, goggles and a breathing mask when handling fibreglass. Once your pipe is lagged, you need to cover and seal that fibreglass insulation especially round the joins. Use Duct Tape... use small pieces or you'll end up taping yourself!. Ideally, it then needs boxing over. Always leave an access for any inspection covers.
ADDED:
OK! In that case, just lag it as said here (and answer below). As long as there is good insulation round it, it won't freeze. I don't know why you have a thermostat on it; but if it has to be there, make sure it's not covered with insulation; but ensure all connections are secure and moisture or condensation can't get at it. A box of at least 1/2" wood could be built over it. If thermostat not needed, after lagging, remove it.

Answer 4

4 Inch Pipe Insulation

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
i need to put insulation around a 3 inch PVC sewer pipe.. i got heat tape on it but i need to know ..?
if that regular fiberglass with the silver foil backing is safe.. i got some on a roll it was high in price..its 1 inch fiberglass with foil on the back of it.. and the heat tape is under it.. is it safe?

Answer 6

I am in the construction industry and have never seen a sewer pipe insulated and I live in Ohio a cold weather state.I have also worked on manufactered homes with crawl spaces and they don't have insulated sewer pipes either. I do know that heat tape has been know to cause fires and I would never use it myself.

Answer 7

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/avPV9

yes you can use Heat tape on the PVC and yes you need to have a ground fault protected plug (GFCI). If you want to do this right you need to spiral around the pipe and put some fiberglass insulation around it to hold the warmth of the heat tape to the pipe. if you don't put insulation on it the pipe will still freezes. you will need to measure the pipe to see what size heat tape you need.

Answer 8

The heat tape will keep it from freezing when covered with almost anything and almost anything is safe because the tape doesn' t get that hot and is insulated.
I am wondering, why do you have to keep sewer pipe from freezing? It should be hung and sloped to drain and should never have water settle in it to freeze.