a restaurant that is partailly elevated. Is heat tape 'really' nessessary? If I wrap it tightly with insulatin then wrap it again with a plastic flex wrap, that ought to be okay, right? I'm not a plumber- just a basic maint. man. Any tips, ideas?
Are you sure you mean drain pipes ? There is absolutely no reason to insulate drain pipes and definitely no heat tape .
Shoudn't be a problem using a snake in PVC. Take your time and when you get the blockage out make sure you flush it well to get all pieces out. No need to add that when she let's go.....Stand Back!!
That is unusual. I believe that insulation would be enough. I've only used heat tape on water lines, not drains. The main issue here is to eliminate any breeze or drafts that may be occurring. Make sure that any cracks or openings that may allow the wind in are sealed up. In my experience it is almost always the direct cold air from wind that causes any freezing. Good luck.
The trick is to move the P traps up into the building(where there is heat) and replace the P traps in the lower extremes with a 90 elbow. No insulating needed. Water in a straight through drain pipe goes downward, no time to stay and freeze. If however above your head is the floor of the restaurant, you are in $hit. Insulation does not heat. It is just glass fibers(like hair). It will keep the cold in just like it will keep the heat in. You have had the experience. You can do 2 things. Build an enclosure(like a small room that has all the p-traps inside it, from ground to ceiling) and insulate that room. and then hang a light bulb in there with a 100W bulb burning 24/7 to supply the heat for that small room. Or use a trouble light. That is micro juice. costing a penny a month. I would also snag a thermometer and leave it in there at about the height of the lowest P trap(that will be the coldest one and check on it occasionally especially when it gets cold for you may need to put in extra heat if the 1 bulb is not enough because your room is not insulated well enough. So long as it is 33 degrees it is still water in the P traps. Just don't have the bulb near wood and you won't have a fire. Can't use heat tape on drain pipes. Only on supply lines So this could be a construction project of sorts. It is your call.
