Safety Tips For Working With Industrial-Grade Heated Hoses
If your company is located in an area of the country where it frequently freezes in the winter, then you will benefit by using industrial-grade heated hoses in exterior spaces. Whether you are moving water, sewage, or industrial fluids through the hoses, it is very important that you use them in a safe manner. Since heated hoses utilize electricity to keep their inner liquids flowing, they can be dangerous if not employed in the manner that they were designed to be used.
If you have never used heated hoses, here is a list of safety tips so you can install and use them as designed in the future:
Tip: Use a Camlock Fitting on Spigots
If you are connecting your new heated hose to a water spigot or the outlet on an industrial fluid tank, then it is important you use a camlock fitting. The camlock fitting will ensure that there are no fluid leaks and make it easy for you to remove the hose if there is a future need.
Tip: Never Pull or Yank on a Heated Hose
While you may be used to pulling your air and hydraulic hoses, you should never yank or pull on a heated hose. The electrical wires inside of the hose's outer casing can be damaged by excessive stretching. Instead, carefully unroll your hose along the area where it will be used.
Tip: Always Plug Industrial-Grade Heated Hoses into GFCI-Rated Electrical Outlets
Industrial-grade heated hoses should always be plugged into GFCI-rated electrical outlets. Ground fault circuit interrupting outlets contain a mechanism that turns off the power flow if a dangerous situation is sensed. This is very important because heated hoses introduce electrical current in the same area as water and other fluids. If the outer sheathing of the hose were to become damaged, a GFCI outlet can save your life by turning off the flow of electricity that would otherwise electrocute you.
Tip: Never Attempt to Cut or Splice Heated Hoses
Finally, since industrial-grade heated hoses are wrapped in electrical lines that keep their internal liquids from freezing, it is vital that you never attempt to cut or splice heated hoses together. Cutting or splicing heated hoses ruins their electrical wires and can lead to electrocution when they come into contact with water. Instead, you should purchase heated hoses that are long enough for the application that you need to use them for.
