Can you help me with my water pipe?
by
Kel
+3
I rent a trailer and water pump located under trailer. Right now landlord has electric tape that cord is plugged inside home. Only have trailer siding insulating under trailer. What can I use ( cheap) to better insulate and unplug water pipe tape? Also need to keep animals out. Live in Maine so kinda cold in winter. Thank you
Related Discussions
Suggested Project Book
I know this sounds mean, but I would call your local building and housing authority for a free inspection. The results will be given to the owner to fix or repair anything not up to code. Electric tape around a cord is a "quick fix" and chances are not even safe, not to mention legal. They can also give you suggestions to beef up the insulation, and should be performed by the owner, not you.
i concur. shame on home owner.
I think the electrical tape she is referring to is heat tape. It is electrical. It is wrapped around pipes to avoid freezing. They start heating about 40 degrees. I use them in my house. No freeze ups since I started using them. I suggest leaving the heat tape in place or you may yourself without water next winter.
Heat tapes are perfectly legal and used in many applications when piping is run in unheated area. You can buy lengths of foam insulation that fit over the tape and pipe. Home Depot and Lowes both have it as would Ace and other regular hardware stores. Actually insulating the pipe and tape is preferred. Tape the insulation on in a few spots so it does not fall off. Preventing drafts in the ares where the pipes run is important too. Trailers typically have only skirting around the base. It is the nature of their construction.