Install pipe trace to prevent water from freezing?

[mmurray70]

Hi guys this question is not about my garage but there is alot of knowledge here so hoping someone can help.

I have a property with a crawlspace and the plumbing (pex) is protected with heat traces like these: http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/pipe-tracing-heating-cables-0522584p.html#.VKcHT4EhzqA

Problem is one has failed and there is no acess to that perticular line. Im thinking about getting a heat trace and securing it inside some 2" pvc drain line and then cutting the two pex lines and sliding the pvc (with heat trace) over the run i cant reach. So ill have a 2" pvc pipe with 2 pex lines and a heat trace inside.

I think this will be an easy fix and will work fine to prevent freezing. But will the wires get too hot inside the pipe? If they get too hot will they be a fire hazard or simply risk burning them out? Dont want to burn the place down. Any advice?

 

[BD1]

The one you posted does have a thermostat so it should work. I would contact manufacture and see what they say.
As a option you could heat trace the pex and get pipe insulation to go over the pex and heat trace and then slide in the PVC.

 

[GT14HORSE]

I have a cabin with my well 175' feet away. During the winter we do not have water. Put a new well in last year and this year going to put in new line to cabin.
I am thinking about using a in-pipe heat line from http://www.heatline.com/heatline.htm.

 

[dfiler2]

A lot of folks around here are using Frostex heat tape, it is low voltage and can be insulated over and cut to any length you need.

http://www.deanbennett.com/frostex-heat-tape.htm

 

[Bondo]

A lot of folks around here are using Frostex heat tape, it is low voltage and can be insulated over and cut to any length you need.

http://www.deanbennett.com/frostex-heat-tape.htm

Ayuh,.... That's the Cadillac of heat tapes,....

Great stuff to work with, 'n seems to hold up very well,....