Benefits of Water Heating Systems

For farmers with livestock, winter presents a variety of problems. The biggest problem that farmers face in the cold winter months is the affect that low winter temperatures and snow have on their livestock. It's kind of double jeopardy as livestock come off free range grazing early due to heavy snow and the lower temperatures put a quick end to livestock water supplies.

In order to remain healthy, livestock must have constant access to clean unfrozen water. Optimally, water for livestock should be between 40 and 65 degrees F. Additionally, livestock must consume large quantities of water to properly process their feed. Unfortunately, many farmers experience an inadequate water supply during the winter months that can adversely affect a farm animal's general health, feed intake, meat and milk production, and ultimately the animal's profitability. With colder winter temperatures, farmers are dealing with frozen waterlines, pipes freezing, and frozen water troughs. Thankfully, water heating systems or water pipe freeze protection systems solve the problems that people and animals face during the cold winter months by offering an adequate water supply.

Companies that specialize in water pipe freeze protection have products available to ensure livestock water supplies offer farmers a practical alternative to the labour intensive solutions of the past - like trucking in water every day or draining and recharging waterlines in the barn. Some of the most effective water pipe freeze protection systems use innovative conductive-polymer heating cable technology.

When a farmer wants to ensure an adequate water supply to their livestock, it is important to look for a company that specializes in a number of freeze protection systems that are particularly applicable for farm, ranch, stable or any other agricultural setting. Everything from heating cables for drinking bowls for use in the barn or stable to feedlot water heating applications from any source are available. However, one must make sure that the water heating system is not only reliable but also energy efficient. By taking into consideration performance, energy efficiency, and reliability of a water heating system, a farmer can have real peace of mind.

However, it's not only farmers and their livestock that benefit from water heating systems. In the past, one of the major obstacles that faced people wanting to build a lakefront home or turn a recreational property into a year-round residence was how to ensure a reliable water supply. Very few cottage or rural properties have the luxury of being on town water. However, some rural properties have existing wells or are fortunate to be located in areas where a well can be drilled. Yet, in cottage country, it is not always possible or economically viable to drill a well, since much of lake country is located on the rocky Canadian Shield. Drilling a well through hundreds of feet of solid granite can be astronomically expensive. The alternative to costly drilling is to draw water from a nearby pond or lake. Nevertheless, the chief problem with maintaining your own water system is how to reliably keep the water flowing during the long, cold months of winter without worrying about a freeze up.

Many people, but particularly baby boomers, have come to understand the benefits of water heating systems. With this knowledge, they are now able to convert their cottage country properties into year-round residences. Some baby boomers have leaned on heating cable systems to protect their water systems from freezing, thus enabling them to more affordably ensure a constant water supply throughout the winter months.

This form of self-regulating freeze protection system offers freeze protection for low pressure water supply lines, generally running from a lake, river, or well. The heating cable is inserted directly inside the polyethylene pipe and is provided factory finished for ease of installation.

Self-regulating freeze protection systems are extremely beneficial and unlike resistance wire or zone heaters. With self-regulating freeze protection systems, there is no worry about under heating or over heating, even when insulated. The self-regulating heating cables automatically adjust heat output at each point (microscopically) along their length.

In addition, self-regulating heaters reduce energy costs do to the fact you can insulate your pipes. This way, the power output is applied as a function of pipe heat loss versus ambient temperature. Heat is applied where and when it is needed.

With the implementation of water heating systems and pipe freeze protection, farmers and those that live in remote areas have a lot less to worry about. Baby boomers have realized the benefits associated with water pipe freeze protection including peace of mind and cost savings associated with being able to use their cottage property year-round. While farmers understand that a constant water supply to their livestock throughout the cold winter months increases the profitability of their animals. Thankfully, with the availability of pipe freeze protection, both demographics now are able to maintain their own water system without the fear of it freezing up during the long, cold months of winter.