Shop sink anti-freeze heater

bkenobi · Dec 6, 2018

I should say that I already have all those adapters. I would just need to source the cube (Lowes, HD, Ace, etc have it).

aczlan · Dec 6, 2018

bkenobi said:
Right, but then I'd have a screw in to plug adapter then cube then plug to bulb adapter then ceramic heater. I seriously considered it but it looked too ugly for me. It would have worked though!

Just get a 100 watt mini fan heater and plug that into the adapter (or the adapter, then the cube), we have one that we used for a similar purpose and it worked well, we have this model: https://www.amazon.com/Lasko-100-MyHeat-Personal-Heater/dp/B003XDTWN2

Aaron Z

Dwellonroof · Dec 6, 2018

Heat tape, turns on at around 35 degrees i believe.

coldsteelva · Dec 7, 2018

If I may recommend a hot water recirculator. Generally used to maintain near-instant hot water at fixtures at the end of a long run from the hot water tank. So that the cold water in the line isn't wasted while waiting for the hot water to arrive. In your case, it would simply take hot water from the hot line cross it over to the cold line (when not in use) and flow back to a T in the cold supply on the heater. The pump could be connected to a Thermo-Cube (described above) to maintain the closed flow of heated water during times of potential freeze. It would also cost MUCH less to run than an electric heating element. https://www.amazon.com/Watts-500800-Instant-Recirculating-Install/dp/B000E78XHG

jaxs · Dec 7, 2018

Doesn't that risk cross contaminating fresh water supply from circulating through the drain trap?

aczlan · Dec 7, 2018

jaxs said:
Doesn't that risk cross contaminating fresh water supply from circulating through the drain trap?

No, it pumps water from the hot water side back into the cold water side, so no new water will enter the system, it will just push water backwards through the cold water side.

Aaron Z

bkenobi · Dec 7, 2018

I'm leaning towards installing a thermostat switch at 35F or possibly getting an electronic controller to do the same. The cubes would work, but I'd have to do some ugly adapter work. The tstat switch is inside the cube anyway, so it just make implementing easier.

jaxs · Dec 7, 2018

bkenobi said:
I store my tractor in an unheated shop that has a sink inside some repurposed kitchen cabinets. There is a small hot water tank next to the sink and the cold water supply line also feeds a hose bib right behind the sink on the outside. The shop has insulation in the wall, but I've had the bib rupture in the past.

There is a light bulb under the sink that I turn on in winter. With the bulb on, there really shouldn't be an issue with freezing. However, incandescant bulbs are necoming harder to find and, more importantly, the bulb has burned out 2x this year (don't know why).

What do others use to keep things from freezing? I can't use pipe heat tape as the lines are mostly PEX. Also, that doesn't help the sink drain line. I picked up a fish tank heater today, but I'm not convinced this is the right unit or approach.

aczlan said:
No, it pumps water from the hot water side back into the cold water side, so no new water will enter the system, it will just push water backwards through the cold water side.

Aaron Z

From the original post.

aczlan · Dec 7, 2018

jaxs said:
From the original post?

I read your post as being in response to the one above it by coldsteelva talking about a recirculator:

coldsteelva said:
If I may recommend a hot water recirculator. Generally used to maintain near-instant hot water at fixtures at the end of a long run from the hot water tank. So that the cold water in the line isn't wasted while waiting for the hot water to arrive. In your case, it would simply take hot water from the hot line cross it over to the cold line (when not in use) and flow back to a T in the cold supply on the heater. The pump could be connected to a Thermo-Cube (described above) to maintain the closed flow of heated water during times of potential freeze. It would also cost MUCH less to run than an electric heating element. https://www.amazon.com/Watts-500800-Instant-Recirculating-Install/dp/B000E78XHG

Aaron Z

quicksandfarmer · Dec 7, 2018

bkenobi said:
I'm leaning towards installing a thermostat switch at 35F or possibly getting an electronic controller to do the same. The cubes would work, but I'd have to do some ugly adapter work. The tstat switch is inside the cube anyway, so it just make implementing easier.

This: