This tool teaches the golden rule of winter plumbing: “Heat Tape creates the heat, Insulation keeps it.” Many tiny house owners fail because they apply heat tape but skip the foam insulation, causing the wind to strip the heat away faster than the tape can generate it.
It features a “Spiral vs. Straight” Visualizer that calculates exactly how much extra tape you need to spiral-wrap your pipes for extreme cold, and a Power Monitor to warn you if your winterizing plan will trip your breaker.
PEX Freeze Guard Simulator
Don’t burst a pipe. Calculate heat tape & insulation needs.
Heat tape needs insulation to work effectively.
Self-Regulating Cable 101
Modern “Self-Regulating” heat tape has a conductive core that reacts to temperature. As it gets colder, the core contracts, creating more electrical paths and generating more heat. As it warms up, it expands and reduces power. This saves energy, but it never turns completely off unless you unplug it.
Straight: Taped along the bottom of the pipe (at 6 o’clock). Good for moderate winters.
Spiral: Wrapped like a candy cane. Provides more heat per foot of pipe. Mandatory for 3″ sewer drains or extreme climates (-20°F).