Ultra Heat Pipe and Elbow Heaters are designed to protect exposed drain pipes and elbows from freezing in cold weather. Specifically, the exposed drain pipes and elbows attached to your holding tank drains (black tanks and gray tanks) to empty waste. Exposed drain pipes and elbows contain solid waste and waste water when the knife valves are closed on your drainage system. If your exposed drain pipes and elbows are not protected the solid waste and waste water they contain will freeze solid in cold weather. Frozen drain pipes in your drainage system prevent dumping of the holding tanks. When this happens the holding tanks fill up and cannot be dumped preventing the RV's toilet, shower and sinks from being used. This is a major inconvenience. Ultra Heat pipe and elbow heaters are needed to fully protect the drainage system. Once your RV has the appropriate amount of Ultra Heat Tank, Pipe and Elbow Heaters installed, then your RV's drainage system will be protected for cold weather use.
As you probably know there are many different types of RV's manufactured by many different RV manufacturers. Even within a single product line RV manufacturers produce various models of RVs, each with different floor plans, and all with a distinct drainage system and drain pipe layout. Literally thousands of separate drain pipe layouts exist, exclusive to each type of RV, particular model or floor plan. It is not practical to have a "kit" or prepackaged sets of Ultra Heat Pipe and Elbow Heaters that will protect the exposed drain pipes on every type of RV made. Because of this, each drain pipe layout on every individual RV must be evaluated to determine the necessary amount of Ultra Heat Pipe and Elbow Heaters to be used.
Exposed drain pipes and elbows can only be protected from freezing if the appropriate number of UltraHeat™ Pipe and Elbow Heaters are installed. Equally important is the spacing of the Pipe and Elbow Heaters on the exposed drain pipes and elbows. Pipe and Elbow Heaters must not be spaced too far apart (larger than 2" (5 cm) spacing) so freezing will occur between the pipe and elbow heaters. To get good protection for your exposed drain pipes it is crucial to select the correct combination of Ultra Heat Pipe and Elbow Heaters and space them appropriately. Follow the steps below to determine the number of Ultra Heat Pipe and Elbow Heaters you will need for your unique drainage system.
Step No. 1:
You must be able to see the drain pipes and elbows that empty waste from your holding tanks. Find how to access to these drain pipes and elbows in your RV. You must be able to see and touch the drain pipes and elbows in order to gather the information necessary to select the appropriate pipe and elbow heaters.
Step No. 2:
Note the number of 1½"- 2" (3.81-5.08 cm) diameter elbows in each of the drain pipe runs from the gray holding tank drain(s) up to the knife valve(s). The 1½"-2" (3.81-5.08 cm) diameter elbows can be 90°, 45°, 22.5°, short sweep, long sweep, etc. Each one of these 1½"-2" (3.81-5.08 cm) diameter elbows will require its own protection from freezing. Ultra Heat recommends that all exposed 1½"-2" (3.81-5.08 cm) diameter elbows, of each type, use an EH-158 Elbow Heater for protection from freezing in cold weather.
Step No. 3:
Note the number of 3" (7.62 cm) diameter elbows in each of the drain pipe runs from the gray or black holding tank drain(s) up to the knife valve(s). The 3" (7.62 cm) diameter elbows can be 90º, 45º, 22.5º, short sweep, long sweep, etc… Each one of these 3" (7.62 cm) diameter elbows will require its own protection from freezing. Ultra Heat recommends that all exposed 3" (7.62 cm) diameter elbows, of each type, use an EH-313 Elbow Heater for protection from freezing in cold weather.
Step No. 4:
Measure the length of all straight 1½"- 2" (3.81-5.08 cm) diameter drain pipe sections in each of the exposed drain pipe run(s) from the gray holding tank drain(s) up to the knife valve(s.) The length of each straight drain pipe section should be measured from the outside flanges of all pipe fittings, including elbow(s) and/or knife valve(s.) Each measurement should include only straight drain pipe. Make a list of all of the measurements in inches for each individual straight section of 1½" - 2" (3.81-5.08 cm) diameter drain pipe. It may be helpful to sketch how the entire 1½" - 2" (3.81-5.08 cm) diameter drain pipe run lays out, from the tank drain up to the knife valve. Each individual straight section of 1 ½" -2" (3.81-5.08 cm) diameter drain pipe will require a specific set of Ultra Heat Pipe and/or Elbow Heaters to get protection from freezing. Use the Ultra Heat Pipe Heater Application Chart to select the proper set of Ultra Heat Pipe and Elbow Heaters for each individual straight section of 1½" -2" (3.81-5.08 cm) diameter drain pipe based on its measured length.
