There’s no doubt that cold weather harms many things. That’s why small business owners, facility managers, engineers and even homeowners look to BriskHeat to provide the freeze-protection solutions they need.

In areas prone to snow, ice and sub-freezing temperatures, freeze protection can prevent damage to roofs, gutters, water piping, sewage lines, tanks, instrumentation and fuel lines. Even when it may not be cold enough to freeze, lower temperatures can cause liquids to be more resistant to flow causing production difficulties. Colder temperatures can also cause condensation to form inside pipes and ductwork allowing impurities from corrosion in gas streams. With ever-rising energy and downtime costs, everyone can see the benefits of preventing heat loss.

Plan

BriskHeat has two tools to help plan for winter and protect ductwork that can lose heat, pipes that can sweat when it gets cold, or fluids that get too thick to flow or mix properly. Just as plans are made toSource: BriskHeatSource: BriskHeat winterize cars by checking anti-freeze and winter wiper blades, it is advisable to plan to winterize businesses and homes.

Inspect

The tools BriskHeat developed are the 2024 Freeze Protection Maintenance & Energy Efficiency Guide and the Residential Freeze Protection Planning Guide & Checklist. These booklets provide information on what items to inspect. If a heat trace system is already in place, the guides include information on testing the self-reg cable. Some inspection tips include:

  • Checking pipes for corrosion
  • Inspecting gutters and downspouts for clogs
  • Looking for deterioration of insulating materials
  • Checking connections and testing functionality of heat trace
  • Verifying inventory of emergency deicing supplies
  • And so much more

Maintain

Based on previous winter experiences and inspection results, it’s time to determine the maintenance required before the temperatures drop. The above Guides as well as BriskHeat's Freeze Protection Catalog can provide information on applying heat trace so a novice can install a system like an expert. There is also information on energy efficiency, which promotes the importance of maintaining insulation on hot water pipes, furnace duct work and other piping that may be exposed to sub-freezing temperatures.

Snow and ice on roofs and gutters can be a huge problem in many parts of the U.S. and Canada. To maintain the integrity of a roof, be sure sufficient Speedtrace Roof & Gutter Cable is available and that it is properly maintained and installed.

Explore the full range of BriskHeat Freeze Protection Solutions on the Freeze Protection Central Page.

To contact the author of this article, email GlobalSpeceditors@globalspec.com