For many residents of private houses, the problem of freezing water in winter cold is common, so heating the water supply or its thermal insulation must be carried out by. This is not only a simple necessity, this is a solution to the problem, which affects comfortable living in the house, as well as a purely economic side, because the replacement of the old failed system will have to lay out their blood from the family budget.
Types of water supply protection from low temperatures
The video insulation of water pipes in the basement with a special cable
Currently, there are three ways to avoid freezing the outer water supply network:
Lay water pipes below the level of freezing of the soil;
use modern thermal insulation materials to protect;
install a heating cable that will be connected to the electric current network.
The first method was used until recently often. But he has one fairly large minus. In some regions, the level of freezing of the soil reaches two meters, and digging to such a depth is not always profitable. This is a large amount of earthwork. In addition, the repair of the water supply at such a depth is inconvenient, you have to dig a very large hole.
The second option is used today most often. In principle, manufacturers offer heat -insulating materials in large quantities and in a wide range. But not all heaters will be able to cope with the duties assigned to them. For example, mineral wool or glass wool. These two heat -insulating materials quickly lose their qualities if water gets on them. And in the ground, the probability of getting wet increases several times. Therefore, for heating the water supply with your own hands, they should not be used.
Many may object that there is the possibility of using good waterproofing. This, firstly, will increase the cost of the process. And, secondly, there is no guarantee. Therefore, experts recommend a more modern thermal insulation material – foam. But using even it, it is necessary to take into account some nuances.
Rodents, such as rats, moles and mice, move towards the heat that radiates the water supply. It is not difficult to gnaw a layer pie from a plastic pipe and insulation, so it is necessary to take special measures. To do this, the water pipe is slept. First, a steel pipe is installed, and only after that a plastic pipe with a heater is installed in it. Difficult surgery, but a reliable sleeve can not do here.
Sometimes, instead of a steel pipe, some masters use a very serious composition. A plastic water pipe is wrapped by a steel mesh, which in turn is coated with a cement mortar, which includes broken glass. Very reliable protection against rodents.
Water supply heating with a special cable
The video lesson tells about the insulation of the water supply to the outer cable
The third option is the most modern. For this, a special heating cable is used, which can be laid on top of the tap pipe or placed inside the water supply itself. In the first case, there is no need to carry out complex processes and use additional materials. But you will have to guil the water pipe, and also use insulation. It is important to reliably attach the heating cable to the pipes and drag all this design through a steel sleeve. After which the cable only needs to be connected to the AC network.
With the internal installation of the cable, everything is completely different. To do this, you will have to use special tees. In this case, the pipes are connected at an angle of 90 degrees, and the cable is drawn into the third hole, which is a continuation of the main pipeline. This hole has a small section so that the cable can fit it. For sealing from the side of the cable, a fitting and a special rubber tube is installed. All compounds are attached exclusively with clamps.
Several additional tips
Not the entire water supply will pass underground. This applies to the basement, which can be unheated. In this case, it is necessary to carry out all the measures related to the insulation and this section of the water supply. By the way, here you can use heating pipes, which are carried out along the same contour as the water supply. They will have to be isolated together.
Any heating cable works from electricity. If your village is constantly turned off in your village, then this method does not suit you.
And the last, be sure to make a water supply circuit and store it. In a few years, it will definitely come in handy.