The exact amount of energy consumed varies from application to application. To better understand electrical heat trace consumption, one must understand the technology of electrical heat tracing systems.
Heat-Line utilizes self-regulating electrical heat trace cables which are designed to automatically adjust their heat output based on the surrounding temperature. This means that as the temperature drops, the pipe tracing cables generate more heat to prevent freezing, and as it rises, the electrical heat tracing systems reduce heat output to conserve energy.
In contrast, constant wattage heat trace for pipes supply only one level of heat output regardless of the ambient temperature. Constant wattage heat trace for pipes can lead to energy inefficiency and overheating of the cable heat trace or the pipe itself.
The advantage of Heat-Line self-regulating pipe tracing lies in its energy efficiency and versatility. It consumes only the necessary amount of energy to maintain the desired heating tracing temperature, resulting in lower operating costs compared to constant wattage heat trace for pipes. Additionally, self-regulating pipe tracing removes the risk of overheating, making it safe for metal and non-metal pipes even if the pipe is dry. A further benefit of self-regulating heating tracing is its ability to be safely insulated. Insulating pipe tracing and installing a trace heating thermostat or timer can increase energy savings up to 80%.