I have a detached outbuilding about 40 feet away from my house that has hot and cold PEX lines running underground. Currently, these lines tend to freeze during the winter unless I constantly cycle hot water through them, which isn't ideal since the property isn't always occupied. I'm considering digging up the lines to add insulation and wrap them with heat tape or cable before burying them again. I'd like to know if this is a reliable approach or if there are any significant issues with running heat tape or cable underground, especially over that distance.
3 Answers
It sounds like your PEX might need to be buried deeper. There's a proper depth for these lines to avoid freezing, which is usually below the frost line. Just running heat tape may not be enough, so consider this as a first step.
You might want to make it simpler by controlling a recirc loop based on outdoor temperature. It's actually cost-effective and can keep things warm without digging. Just install a basic sink-type recirc pump and connect it to a smart switch or temperature controller. You won’t need to do any major plumbing, and it would keep your lines safer.
Heating tape isn’t always a reliable fix! You're better off either burying the lines deeper or using a recirculation pump. If you can, doing both would give you great peace of mind. That way, you ensure your pipes stay unfrozen without too much hassle.