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I had the same problem after we first installed central heat. Heat tape wrapped around the PVC drain line DID solve the problem! I did have to thaw the pipe the first time with a heat gun but over several years have never had a problem since putting on the heat tape.
I’ve used heat tape on PVC pipe for decades and never had a problem, although the smallest pipe I can recall using it on was 3/4″.
I don’t think heat tape would get hot enough to melt PVC, and some heat tapes have a thermostat that turns the tape on only when the temperature goes below 32. The packaging should have good info.
ScottI have a high efficiency propane furnace that has a drain line for the condensate. The problem is that the tube freezes up at the end and then water leaks out around base of the furnace. It’s not a lot of water but I don’t want it corroding the base of the furnace. Last summer I crawled around in the basement and carefully wrapped the 1/2 inch PVC drain line in insulation, but now I that I’m here again in cold weather I can see that it clearly wasn’t enough. What to do?
I could switch from 1/2 inch to 3/4 or 1 inch. I’m sure that would help, but I don’t know if it will be enough. I can’t easily increase the slope of the drain tube. Going lower would require drilling through the foundation and then I risk something on the outside plugging it up.
Or I could wrap the line in heater tape. Does that work on PVC? Or will I have to switch to copper?
Another idea is to move the air gap in the line away from the furnace base and let it continue to overflow. It’s not a lot of water and I doubt it will do much harm, but I do want it away from the furnace. On the other hand, it’s never a good idea to have moisture under the house.
Anybody else have this issue?
thanks
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