Immersion heaters in potable water pipe

[mflam]

Has anyone had experience using heating elements directly inserted into water supply piping to prevent freezing? Anyone experienced adverse effects on the quality of the water?
There is a product furnished by Tyco Thermo Controls that is similar to heater tape but is inserted into the pipe, size ranges from 1/2-inch to 1-1/4-inch. Marketed for potable water. Could be a very useful item here in Massachusetts but I really don't want to do research on my customer's drinking water.

 

[DesignerMike]

It's probably the exact same element that is in heating the water in your electric hot water heater at home.

They make them in a number of different materials and wattage.
I doubt they would be as effective as heating tape since you would need to realy on convection/conduction to distribute the heat along a stagnant water pipe, and if it is not stagnant, it won't freeze very easily. The water could easily be 150 degrees close to the element and 30 degrees 15 feet away (depending on the amount of insulation on the pipe and external conditions)

 

[bulkhandling]

Agree with Mike. Immersion heaters are good for water tanks. For piping, heat tracing tape is normally used.