Pipe heat tape kits · OEM & wholesale
Heat tape for water pipes plug-in, pre-assembled pipe heat tape kits for retail
Heat tape for water pipes is the ready-to-use retail format of pipe freeze protection: a pre-terminated heating element with a plug, a built-in thermostat and a fixed length, sold by the length of pipe it protects. StormForge supplies heat tape kits to hardware distributors, home-improvement retailers, plumbing wholesalers and private label brands — in the lengths, voltages, plugs and packaging your market buys before winter.
- Pre-assembled plug-in kits — no cutting or terminating
- Built-in thermostat and power indicator light (by model)
- Fixed lengths sold by pipe run, approx. 1–30 m (3–100 ft)
- Retail boxes, multilingual instructions and private label
What heat tape for water pipes is
A heat tape kit is a flat or round heating element that is laid along (or, for some models, spiralled around) a water pipe, fixed with tape or ties and plugged into an outlet. A thermostat at the pipe end senses the pipe temperature and switches the tape on as it approaches freezing, so it only uses power on cold days. Kits are sold by length — the buyer measures the pipe run and picks the matching SKU — which makes heat tape the highest-volume freeze protection item in hardware retail after pipe insulation.
Heat tape vs heat cable vs heated hose
The three products use the same principle but are bought for different jobs — keeping them as separate SKUs avoids returns:
- Heat tape (this page) — a finished, plug-in kit of fixed length for a homeowner’s water pipe. Retail packaging, built-in thermostat, no cutting.
- Heat cable — the cable itself: self-regulating bulk reels cut to length and terminated by an installer, plus constant-wattage cable for kit builders. Trade and project channels.
- Heated hose — a drinking-water hose with the heating element built in, replacing a garden or RV hose rather than protecting a fixed pipe.
Installation notes for packaging and manuals
Heat tape is a mains electrical product, so instructions matter as much as the tape. Typical manual content: measure the pipe run and choose the matching length; place the thermostat against the pipe at its coldest point; follow the model’s rules on overlapping (many constant-wattage tapes must never overlap themselves); state whether the model is suitable for plastic pipe; plug into a GFCI/RCD-protected outlet; and cover with pipe insulation only where the instructions allow. We print the warnings and instructions you approve in your languages. For pipes inside an unheated garage, a space heater for garage use with a frost-protection setting can complement heat tape; supply lines to a frost free hydrant are buried below the frost line instead.
Compliance, honestly
We do not claim UL, CSA, ETL, CE or any other listing or certification for heat tape by default. Kits are built to the standards you specify on the RFQ, and test reports available for a given model can be provided on request. The brand owner remains responsible for compliance in its market.
Typical heat tape kit specifications (by model)
| Parameter | Typical options |
|---|---|
| Format | Pre-assembled plug-in kit, fixed length |
| Lengths | Approx. 1, 2, 3, 4.5, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 30 m (3–100 ft) |
| Thermostat | Built-in, pipe-mounted; switches on near freezing (by model) |
| Indicator | Power indicator light at plug (by model) |
| Voltage / plug | 120 V or 220–240 V; plug per market |
| Pipe suitability | Metal and/or plastic pipe — stated per model |
All electrical values confirmed per model in quotation; no listing or certification implied.
Customization options
Length runs
Choose the length ladder that matches your planogram.
Branding
Plug labels, thermostat housing color and printed boxes.
Kits
Bundle tape + pipe insulation + fixing tape as one SKU.
Manuals
Instructions and warnings in your languages, reviewed by your compliance team.
No certification claimed by default. We do not claim FEMA, Miami-Dade NOA, UL, ETL, IEC, ASTM or any other approval, rating or test result. Products are built to customer-specified standards; test reports can be provided on request where available.
Frequently asked questions
Is heat tape the same as heat cable?
They work the same way. On this site, heat tape means finished plug-in kits for homeowners’ water pipes; heat cable covers bulk self-regulating reels and constant-wattage cable for installers and kit builders.
What length heat tape do I need?
Match the kit length to the pipe run (for straight-run installation). Spiral installation uses more tape per metre of pipe — follow the model’s instructions.
Can heat tape be used on PEX or PVC pipe?
Some models are designed for plastic pipe, others for metal pipe only. Suitability is stated per model; specify the pipe types your customers use.
Do you supply 230 V heat tape?
Yes, 220–240 V versions with market plugs can be quoted.
Are your heat cables or insulation UL listed or ASTM tested?
We do not claim UL, CSA, ETL, ASTM or any other listing or test result by default. Products are built to the standards you specify, and test reports available for a given product can be provided on request.
Stocking heat tape for winter?
Send lengths, voltage/plug, thermostat type, packaging and quantities.