In many industrial applications, maintaining proper temperatures is critical to keeping systems operating safely and efficiently. When pipes, tanks, or process equipment lose heat, fluids can freeze, thicken, crystallize, or solidify—leading to reduced performance, equipment damage, and costly downtime. A heat tracing system  is designed to replace lost heat and maintain required temperatures. In this article, we’ll explain what a heat tracing system is, how it works, and whe

Maintaining proper process temperatures is critical in many industrial environments. Two of the most common solutions used to prevent freezing, control viscosity, and maintain flow are steam tracing and electric heat tracing. While both methods serve similar purposes, they operate very differently and are suited to different applications. This article compares steam and electric heat tracing to help determine which system is best.

Steam tracing—also called steam heat tracing —is a method used in industrial facilities to maintain or increase the temperature of process piping, valves, and equipment  by running a small steam line (the “tracer”) along the process pipe. The heat from the steam offsets heat loss to the environment and helps keep the product inside the pipe within its required temperature range. Steam tracing is widely used for: Freeze protection  (e.g., water lines, instrument lines, drains)