Pipe Trace Plug “N” Play Kit 120V

Plug ‘N’ Play Pipe Heat Cable Kits

Industrial Freeze Protection. Ready for the Homeowner.

Stop relying on the cheap, “big box store” heat tape that burns out after one season. We’ve taken the exact same industrial-grade Drexan MultiTrace® self-regulating cable we install in commercial buildings and packaged it into a ready-to-use kit for your pipe trace project.

We know that terminating heat cable can be intimidating. So we did the hard work for you. Our team expertly assembles these kits in-house, ensuring every connection is watertight, electrically sound, and ready to protect your pipes the moment you plug it in.

Why Choose Our Plug ‘N’ Play Kit?

• No Electrician Needed: Skip the hard-wiring. This kit comes with a factory-sealed, grounded power plug, making it compatible with any standard outlet or custom controller box. Just tape the cable to the pipe, insulate it, and plug it in.

• Self-Regulating Technology: Unlike cheap “constant wattage” cables that can overheat, our Drexan cable automatically adjusts its heat output based on the ambient temperature. It burns hot when it’s cold, and saves energy when it warms up.

• Instant Visual Check: The integrated Lighted Plug gives you instant peace of mind. One look tells you the system is powered up and protecting your water lines. (Note: Actual plug brightness and color may vary).

• Factory-Built Confidence: We don’t outsource our quality. These are assembled right here in Utah by pros who have been doing this for years.

What’s Included:

• Drexan MultiTrace® Self-Regulating Cable (Cut to your selected length)

• Factory-Terminated Power Plug (Grounded & Lighted)

• Pre-Sealed End Cap (Watertight termination)

🛠 Tools You Will Need: 3 Tape Options

The cable creates the heat, but the installation keeps it there. Select the specific tape designed for your pipe material:

1. For PEX Piping: Reinforced Fiberglass-Foil Tape

• The “PEX-Safe” Solution: If you have PEX (Cross-linked Polyethylene) plumbing, you cannot use standard adhesives. PEX is chemically sensitive. Standard rubber-based adhesives found in cheap tapes can cause “Chemical Migration,” leaching plasticizers out of the pipe wall. Over time, this makes the PEX brittle and prone to catastrophic cracking.

• Chemically Inert Adhesive: This tape uses a specialized adhesive formulation designed specifically to be neutral to PEX, preventing chemical interaction and preserving the warranty of your plumbing.

• Fiberglass Reinforcement: The foil is reinforced with a fiberglass scrim, preventing the tape from stretching or tearing as the PEX pipe expands and contracts with hot water.

• Application: Apply continuously along the cable to ensure safe heat transfer without compromising the pipe’s molecular integrity.

2. For PVC & ABS Piping: 3M™ Aluminum Foil Tape

• The “Thermal Bridge” for Rigid Plastic: PVC and ABS are durable, but they are terrible conductors of heat. If you just strap the cable to the pipe, the heat stays trapped in the jacket and doesn’t reach the water.

• Maximized Heat Transfer: This pure aluminum tape acts as a high-efficiency radiator. By applying it over the cable, you spread the warmth across a wider surface area of the rigid plastic, forcing the heat through the pipe wall and into the water.

• High-Temp Acrylic Adhesive: Features the industry-standard 3M acrylic adhesive that won’t dry out or lose adhesion when the cable heats up.

• Application: Apply continuously along the entire length of the cable.

3. For Metal Piping (Copper/Steel): 3M™ Glass Cloth Tape

• The High-Heat Anchor: Metal pipes conduct heat naturally, so you don’t need continuous foil coverage. However, you need a tape that won’t degrade against the hot metal surface.

• Industrial Strength: This woven glass-fiber tape is the industry standard for securing cable to copper and steel. It has superior tensile strength and handles the highest temperatures without stretching or popping off.

• Application: Secure the cable to the pipe at 12-inch intervals (you do not need continuous coverage on metal).

Other Essentials:

• Pipe Insulation: (Highly Recommended) Heat cable is useless without a “coat.” You must cover the pipe and cable with fiberglass or foam insulation to trap the heat against the pipe.

• Vapor Barrier/Vinyl Tape: To seal the insulation joints so moisture doesn’t get in and ruin the thermal value.

🔥 Pro-Tips from the Field

Advice from Eric Wimmer for a frozen-proof system.

• The “5 and 7” Positions: Never run the cable on the very bottom (6 o’clock) or very top (12 o’clock) of the pipe. Sediment settles at the bottom, and air bubbles float to the top—both block heat transfer. Stick the cable at the 5 o’clock and / or 7 o’clock position for maximum efficiency.

• Don’t Spiral It: Professional installers run the cable straight along the pipe. It saves cable length and, when combined with aluminum tape and insulation, provides plenty of heat. Spiraling is a waste of money for most residential pipes.

• Wrap the Valves: Valves and spigots are big chunks of metal that freeze first. When you get to a valve, loop a little extra slack around the valve body to ensure it stays warm, then continue down the line.

• Tape is the Key: Don’t just tape every foot. Run a strip of aluminum tape over the entire length of the cable. This ensures 100% contact with the pipe and eliminates “air gaps” where the cable might burn out.

⚠️ CRITICAL WARNINGS

• GFEP PROTECTION REQUIRED: Safety is non-negotiable.

  • If you select the Standard Plug: You MUST plug this device into an outlet protected by a Ground-Fault Equipment Protector (GFEP).

  • If you select the GFEP Plug: The protection is built into the power cord.

• INSULATION RECOMMENDATION: We see this all the time—people tape the cable to the pipe and walk away. The pipe can still freeze. You must insulate over the cable to trap the heat against the metal/plastic.

• DO NOT PINCH: When securing insulation or passing through walls, ensure the cable is not pinched or crushed, as this can cause a short circuit.

• Code Compliance: Installation must strictly adhere to all applicable state and local electrical codes. We recommend consulting with a licensed electrician or your local building authority to ensure full compliance.

Our Guarantee:

We stand behind our craftsmanship. Every Plug ‘N’ Play kit is backed by an unbeatable 10-Year Limited Warranty. We build them to last, so you can sleep soundly while the temps drop.

NEED HELP WITH LAYOUT?

Check out our “Diagrams & Layouts” page or watch Eric’s latest tutorial to see exactly how to space your clips and apply M-1 glue for a leak-free install.  – Coming Soon!