As Canadians settle in for a long, cold winter, we examine a product that was designed to keep water pipes from freezing. It's called heat tape, and it's basically electrical wires wrapped around the pipes. But the tape has a tendency to crack, exposing the wires to moisture. This causes short-circuiting, and the results have been numerous house fires.

In trailer parks or cabins, the water pipe comes out of the ground and runs through an unheated crawl space before it enters the home. To keep the pipes from freezing, sometimes the water is left running all winter, but the alternative is heat tape plugged into the home's electrical system.

Heat tape, or heat cable, comes in many varieties. Basically, it's just plastic coated wire that you wrap around your pipes. Because it's electrified, it stays warm, about 100 degrees Celsius. And that's enough to keep pipes ice free in winter. When it works, it's a Godsend. But when something goes wrong, that's another story.

In 1990, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) said there were more than 3000 fires and 20 deaths every year in the United States caused by heat tape. Some fire protection specialists think that's a conservative estimate. In Canada, the estimates are 1500 fires, and 12 deaths yearly. Often, fire investigators can't identify heat tape as an ignition source because the evidence is totally consumed in the fire. If the heat tape were in combustible insulation, or next to a piece of wood, that would be sufficient heat to ignite a fire. In one reported case, heat tape actually burned and arced under water, and continued burning like a sparkler from one end to the other.

The Heat Tape Industry has agreed to voluntary standards. Heat tape is rated and listed by Underwriters Laboratories in the US, or the Canadian Standards Association in Canada. Most now have a grounded plug, instead of the old two-pronged plug. Also, the plastic covering is sturdier and longer lasting.

Consumer Advocates though are still not satisfied. They want improved plastic coatings, and they would like all non-listed tapes taken off the market. They also want the product equipped with a device called a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). GFCI's are commonly built into the wall circuits in the bathrooms of many homes. They cut off the power to an electrical appliance immediately something goes wrong. In some appliances, the GFCI is built right into the plug. Advocates say one could be built into heat tape as well.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission offers the following safety tips when using heat tapes;

• Replace uncertified heat tapes with new tapes certified to meet recognized Standards. All new heat tapes will have a three-prong plug into a three-prong outlet to make sure the heat tape is grounded.
• Use a ground-fault circuit-interrupter wherever heat tapes are plugged in.
• Do not wrap heat tape over itself unless specifically permitted in the manufacturer's instructions.
• Apply heat tapes directly to the pipe to be protected. Never on top of the insulation covering the pipe.
• Do not cover the heat tape with insulation unless this is recommended by the manufacturer. Use non-flammable insulation such as fiberglass. Do not use foam or vinyl insulation that could catch fire from failing heat tape.
• Keep the end-cap sealed and off the ground to prevent entry of water. Moisture can lead to a fire.
• Do not use heat tapes designed for water pipes on gutters, driveways, or fuel lines.
• If the heat tape has a thermostat, check instructions to see if it should be placed against the pipe and covered with insulation, or if it should be left hanging and uncovered.
• Inspect heat tapes each year and replace them if you notice signs of deterioration. Look for discolored surfaces, cuts or breaks in the insulation or bare wires.