Thermon Heat Trace Cables: How to Prevent Frozen Pipes and Equipment
November 6, 2026
By EB Horsman & Son
Frozen pipes and equipment can cause costly downtime, damaged infrastructure, and safety risks in industrial facilities. Thermon heat trace cables help prevent freezing by providing controlled electrical heat to pipes, tanks, and equipment exposed to cold temperatures.
From water and wastewater treatment plants to oil and gas facilities, manufacturing operations, and power generation sites, Thermon heat tracing solutions help maintain operating temperatures during harsh Canadian winters.
At EB Horsman & Son, we supply Thermon heat trace cables and accessories to support industrial freeze protection and temperature maintenance applications.
What Are Heat Trace Cables?
Heat trace cables are electrical heating cables installed along pipes, tanks, and equipment to prevent freezing or maintain required process temperatures.
When installed as part of a properly designed system, heat tracing replaces heat lost to the surrounding environment, helping keep fluids flowing and equipment operating in cold conditions.
Where Are Heat Trace Cables Used?
Industrial heat tracing is commonly used for:
- Water and wastewater systems: Protecting exposed water lines, pumps, valves, and related piping from freezing.
- Oil and gas facilities: Maintaining temperatures in process lines, tanks, and equipment.
- Manufacturing plants: Preventing freezing and maintaining fluid temperatures during production.
- Power generation facilities: Protecting outdoor piping and critical systems.
- Commercial and industrial buildings: Providing freeze protection for exposed or unheated piping.
How Do Self-Regulating Heat Trace Cables Work?
Self-regulating heat trace cables automatically adjust their heat output based on the temperature along the cable.
When temperatures decrease, the cable produces more heat. As temperatures rise, its heat output decreases.
This is made possible by a conductive polymer core that changes its electrical resistance in response to temperature.
Benefits of self-regulating heat trace cables include:
- Automatic heat output adjustment
- Reduced energy use compared with constant-output heating under suitable conditions
- Freeze protection for pipes, tanks, and equipment
- Support for process temperature maintenance
- Flexible installation across different piping systems
Although self-regulating cables adjust their output, thermostats and heat trace controllers may still be needed for proper temperature control and energy management.
Why Choose Thermon Heat Trace Cables?
Thermon offers industrial heat tracing solutions designed for freeze protection and process temperature maintenance in demanding operating conditions.
Thermon’s self-regulating heating cables are available in different temperature ratings, power outputs, and construction types to meet specific application requirements.
Thermon HTSX Self-Regulating Heat Trace Cables
Thermon HTSX self-regulating heat trace cables are designed for industrial applications requiring higher temperature capabilities, including certain hazardous locations.
Key features:
- Designed for demanding industrial environments
- Suitable for applications involving elevated process temperatures
- Self-regulating heat output
- Durable construction using Thermon’s monolithic co-extrusion technology
- Options for freeze protection and process temperature maintenance
Thermon BSX Self-Regulating Heat Trace Cables
Thermon BSX self-regulating heating cables are designed for freeze protection and lower-temperature process maintenance on piping, tanks, and equipment.
Key features:
- Suitable for metallic and certain non-metallic piping systems
- Self-regulating heating technology
- Designed for industrial freeze protection
- Available configurations for ordinary and approved hazardous locations
- Suitable for a range of commercial and industrial applications
What Accessories Are Needed for a Heat Trace System?
A complete industrial heat tracing system requires more than heating cable. Proper connections, terminations, controls, insulation, and installation accessories are important for safe and reliable operation.
Thermon Terminator Connection Kits
Thermon Terminator kits provide connection and termination options for compatible heat trace systems.
Common options include:
- Terminator DS/DE and DE-B: Connection components for compatible heat tracing applications.
- Terminator DP: Connection options for power, splice, and termination applications, depending on configuration.
Heat Trace Termination Kits, Tape, and Accessories
Additional components help complete the installation and protect the heating system.
These include:
- PETK termination kits: Components used to prepare and terminate compatible heating cables.
- SCTK kits: Accessories for approved heat trace connections.
- Attachment tape: Helps secure heating cables to piping.
- Caution labels: Identify electrically heat-traced equipment for maintenance and safety.
Beyond Heat Tracing: Protecting Buildings and Enclosures with Ruffneck Heaters
While heat trace cables help protect pipes, tanks, and process equipment from freezing, many industrial facilities also need reliable space heating for buildings and enclosures exposed to extreme winter conditions.
Ruffneck heaters are designed for industrial and hazardous-location heating applications where maintaining ambient temperatures is critical to operations.
Common applications include:
- Pump houses
- Water and wastewater treatment buildings
- Electrical and MCC rooms
- Instrument shelters
- Compressor stations
- Oil and gas facilities
- Remote utility buildings
By maintaining safe ambient temperatures, industrial heaters can help prevent equipment damage, protect sensitive electronics, and support reliable operations during extreme weather.
Used alongside heat tracing systems, industrial heaters can form part of a comprehensive winter protection strategy for water and wastewater facilities, oil and gas operations, manufacturing plants, and utilities across Western Canada.
How Do You Choose the Right Thermon Heat Trace Cable?
At EB Horsman & Son, we offer more than just products. As an authorized Thermon distributor, we provide the technical expertise, product selection, and local support to help protect your equipment and keep operations running through the winter.
- Thermon Product Selection: Access to heat trace cables, controllers, connection kits, and accessories for industrial freeze protection.
- Technical Expertise: Our specialists can help you select the right products for your application.
- Local Inventory: With branches across Western Canada and a connected distribution network, we help you get the products you need.
- Industry Experience: Supporting water and wastewater, oil and gas, manufacturing, utilities, and other industrial operations.
