Covering Heat Tape?

Is it safe to completely cover my heat tape with aluminum foil tape?

NO, that is a major fire risk

Yes it is but it will be a pain to remove if you ever want to replace it. What most people do is just cover it where the tube ridges actually slide onto it along the outer edges the most to prevent wear. If you do cover it entirely, just be very careful down the road if you ever need to replace the heat tape. That doesn't happen very often though.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

NO, that is a major fire risk

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Why is it a fire risk? The wear and tear on exposed heat tape being constantly rubbed on by tubs sliding in and out for years is more of a risk.

Aluminum tape reflects heat, and it prevents the flexwatt from "breathing properly. This can cause the heat tape to overheat, and will make the situation far worse if there is a thermostat malfunction or if the flexwatt shorts out.

Aluminum reflects heat? .... Well I guess a lot of people have been wrong for a long time then huh..

Actually let me rephrase that. The reflective surface of aluminum does obviously reflect heat coming towards it but aluminum tape absorbs the heat from within and distributes it evenly if it's on a hot surface. Many people have been taping their flexwatt where the tubs rub for quite some time to prevent wear on the flexwatt. It has been brought up here on the forums before.

The manufacture Calorique's, instructions in a few places say to always leave 1/8 inch air space when using flexwatt or it may overheat. Covering it with foil, over the heating surface seems to violate the specs. I would guess that there is a reason.

Aluminum is the most common heat shielding material I know of, it does reflect and dissipate heat.

I have never heard of covering the top of flexwatt the under side for sure to reflect heat up but not the top. I have seen runners to protect it once of twice.

The only difference between the two sides of Aluminum tape is that one side has glue on it. both sides are just as reflective... maybe not as much on one side to light but heat is a different matter.

Then it seems unusual to me that people do this if that is the case. I have seen it recommended on here to cover the outer edges and I recommend it to for obvious reasons. Maybe you're right about covering all of the heat tape and I've personally never done that but I have put a strip just one tape roll width along the 2 ends (front to back) where the bottom lip of the tub rubs lines into the heat tape. In my opinion, this is much safer than wearing through the plastic covering the wires of the flexwatt, thus exposing them creating the possibility of shorts, fire, and who knows what.

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

Then it seems unusual to me that people do this if that is the case. I have seen it recommended on here to cover the outer edges and I recommend it to for obvious reasons. Maybe you're right about covering all of the heat tape and I've personally never done that but I have put a strip just one tape roll width along the 2 ends (front to back) where the bottom lip of the tub rubs lines into the heat tape. In my opinion, this is much safer than wearing through the plastic covering the wires of the flexwatt, thus exposing them creating the possibility of shorts, fire, and who knows what.

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I use aluminum tape around the edge of my flexwatt, everybody does. What this thread is talking about is completely covering the flexwatt tape. Doing so is dangerous.

I have used thin lexan and electrical tape to make a 'skid' track for the tub over the flexwatt. My logic was if it wears through and I didn't notice it will not conduct electricity either. I am a bit of a spaz and clean the entire opening of my rack every month so the flexwatt gets a close inspection every month too. It is a killer for time 3.5 hours to clean the rack or more but I know it is clean and I know it is free of shorts or even wear marks.


I think there are a variety of ways of dealing with flexwatt no one right or wrong but one critical thing to do on a regular basis is inspect it!!