We heated pipes with a heating cable and wrapped them with electrical tape and foam insulation. We have been told numerous ways in which they should be wrapped. Is the electrical tape and foam pipe insulation a fire hazard or is it good enough. Should we use foil backed tape instead?

Mrsfixit...

Foil backed tape is probably best, but the pipe insulation and electrical tape work well, too.

I would not say one is more of a fire hazard than the other type.. oK? The fire hazard is more so centered around these systems being used all the time unmonitered. In other words, you need to moniter these systems and use them ONLY WHEN NECESSARY!

If you need this system to be on so often that it presents a fire hazard then you need to look at other alternatives to your problem, such as adding glycol (antifreeze) to the heating system itself. That kind of stuff...

Let me know what you think...

MARK