Heat Trace

Why Heat Trace Matters

A properly designed and installed heat trace solution lets you:

• Prevent pipe freezing and blockages
• Maintain process temperatures for sensitive fluids
• Avoid condensation, corrosion, or thermal shock
• Enable safer working conditions (no cold surfaces, less noise)
• Access lines for inspection and maintenance
• Replace steam tracing where it's impractical

Unlike steam tracing, electric heat trace is often simpler, more controllable, and more energy-efficient - if it's engineered and installed correctly.

Our Heat Trace Capabilities

Murphy delivers a full spectrum of heat trace services - from system design to installation, testing, and maintenance. Here's how we bring our expertise to your project:

System Design & Engineering

We begin by analyzing your piping or equipment layout, load requirements, and ambient conditions. Using that data, we select the proper cable types (self-regulating, constant wattage, or mineral-insulated) and draft control diagrams, power requirements, and details to deliver a robust solution.

Installation & Field Work

Our crew installs heat trace cable over piping, valves, and other components, securing it properly and integrating it with insulation and jacketing systems. We ensure the system is accessible for maintenance and protection is optimized.

Quality Assurance & Testing

After installation, we perform resistance checks, power checks, and validate the control wiring. We'll also run the heat trace on safely to confirm proper operation before handing the system off.

Maintenance & Troubleshooting

Over time, cables may degrade or controls may fail. Murphy supports inspections, repairs, re-terminations, and system upgrades, helping you avoid costly downtime in cold weather.

Choosing the Right Heat Trace Technology

No two applications are identical, and choosing the right type of heat trace is essential. Some of the common types are:

• Self-regulating cables – These adjust output as ambient temperature changes; they won't overheat when overlapped.
• Constant wattage cables – Provide consistent heat output along their length; good for many process and freeze protection applications.
• Mineral-insulated cables (MI) – Rugged, high-temperature capable, and often used in extreme-service environments.

We select the right cable based on your requirements - like length, voltage, ambient extremes, and system complexity. industrialthermo.com+2TRM Heating Cables+2

Advantages of Partnering with Murphy

When you choose Murphy for heat tracing, you're choosing:

Deep Technical Expertise

Our team understands not only how to install heat trace, but how to model heat loss, size circuits, and integrate controls. Many installations fail because they're under- or over-engineered; we get it right up front.

Reliable & Clean Installation

We place cable for long life, avoid overlaps or sharp bends, and provide clear access paths for servicing. We also coordinate with your insulation and jacketing trades to ensure system integrity.

Safety & Compliance

We adhere to all relevant electrical and safety codes, including ground-fault protection, circuit sizing, and hazardous area requirements when applicable. Wikipedia+1

Ongoing Support

Heat trace systems often need tweaks over their lifespan - from repairing damage to adjusting for process changes. We offer long-term support so your line stays protected.

Typical Applications

Murphy installs and services heat trace systems in a range of environments, including:

• Piping networks in chemical, petrochemical, and process plants
• Utility steam or condensate lines
• Tank and vessel heating
• Roof and gutter de‑icing (ice dam mitigation)
• Hot water recirculation systems
• Instrument lines and control tubing

Wherever freezing or temperature control is critical, we bring experience and precision.

Design Considerations & Best Practices

To make sure your heat trace system works properly, these are key:

• Proper insulation over the heat trace to minimize loss
• Vapor barriers to prevent moisture migration
• Correct cable spacing and secure attachment
• Control strategy with thermostats, temperature sensors, or PLCs
• Adequate circuit protection and power feeds
• Future access for maintenance or replacement

A poorly designed system might overheat, trip circuits, leave cold spots, or degrade prematurely. We avoid those pitfalls with disciplined planning and execution.

Murphy's Process – What You Can Expect

Here's how a typical project flows with us:

1. Project kickoff & site survey – We walk the piping, evaluate insulation, ambient conditions, run lengths, etc.
2. Engineering & layout – We design cable runs, branching, terminations, control panel(s), and provide drawings to your team.
3. Material procurement & staging – Our warehouse stocks many heat trace components, ensuring fast job start.
4. Installation – Our experienced crews install cable, splice kits, terminations, and tie into control systems.
5. Testing & validation – We verify continuity, insulation resistance, circuit loads, and system behavior under power.
6. Commissioning & training – We turn the system over, document the installation, and train your operators or maintenance staff.
7. Support & maintenance – We offer periodic inspections, fault detection, or cable repairs through the life of the system.

Common Benefits & ROI

A well-executed heat trace system can:

• Prevent costly pipe freeze damage
• Maintain process fluid flow and viscosity
• Save energy relative to steam tracing or over-sized systems
• Reduce maintenance burdens and emergency interventions
• Improve system uptime and reliability
• Provide peace of mind during cold spells

Because you avoid failures, losses, and emergency response, heat trace systems often pay for themselves over their lifetime.

Case Example (Hypothetical)

Imagine a chemical processing plant with long runs of piping carrying viscous fluids. In winter, those fluids thicken, flow slows, and blockages occur. Murphy designed and installed a self-regulating heat trace system that kept line temperatures stable, prevented freeze-ups, and eliminated unplanned shutdowns. The investment paid off in uninterrupted production, reduced maintenance, and lower scrap.

Why Murphy Should Be Your Heat Trace Partner

1. Depth of experience across industries
2. Comprehensive services - from design to repair
3. Highly skilled installation crews
4. Strong safety and quality focus
5. Responsiveness and local support
6. Flexibility for system upgrades or expansions

You don't just get cables; you get a system, proper integration, and ongoing reliability.

Let's Talk About Your Heat Trace Project

Got a freeze-prone piping system? Need to upgrade your heat trace? Or want to add thermal protection to tanks and vessels? Murphy Company is ready to help you design, install, and maintain a heat trace solution tailored to your needs.
Let us bring the same precision and reliability to your system that our clients expect.