Are Pipe Heaters Safe?

[Traveller 47]

I have an ouside garden tap that freezes every winter, while I am away and the heating is down to 10C, despite a protective insulating cover over the tap on the house wall. Is it safe to wrap the pipe (inside the outer house wall) with a pipe heater wire - one that wraps around the copper pipe? These devices seem to heat up to 70C which seems very high. If so, is it best to maybe just switch it on at night with a timeswitch?

 

[Rtplumb]

Ok, you can purchase a trace element kit with a 2 meter length wire and thermostat for around £35 to £40. The instructions are in the package. Alternatively you could turn off the supply to the tap and leave the tap open to allow for water expansion if it freezes.