Tank Drain Pipe Heaters
Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 8:42 pm
In addition to pad heaters on my black tank, I also installed a 25" long pad heater around the pipe between my black tank and gate valve. They make designated pipe heaters that one would wire in with a switch, but since the pad heater was the perfect length for my application and also operates via a thermostat, I went that route instead.
I'm debating whether to install a switch on the pipe heater so I can turn it on only prior to dumping. Gate valve heaters work in this fashion--only being turned on just prior to dumping. My question is, with the heater only being turned on just prior to dumping, would any expansion in the pipe from freezing just make its way into the black tank?
I'm debating whether to install a switch on the pipe heater so I can turn it on only prior to dumping. Gate valve heaters work in this fashion--only being turned on just prior to dumping. My question is, with the heater only being turned on just prior to dumping, would any expansion in the pipe from freezing just make its way into the black tank?