Power cords are an important part of heat treatment safety!

by Tommy Underhill
August 11, 2020

Let’s talk about an important safety component of a heat treatment that’s often taken for granted: power cords. There is a lot to consider when you get ready to plug in your heater, and using an improper proper cord can dramatically affect the outcome of your heat treatment.

I sat down with Tom Costello, Technical Director at GreenTech Heat Solutions, and David Rios, Assistant Director of Technical Services, to discuss some important safety tips. Unless otherwise noted, all cord suggestions and requirements apply to 120V fans and heaters. The ePro 1400 requires a minimum of 10-gauge, 240V power cords.

More than just a simple wire

“Electrical supply needs to be an important component of setting up a heat treatment,” says Mr. Costello. “Homeowners will often grab any available extension cord without thought of the power needs. All GreenTech heaters and fans have specific power needs and are operated in environments that will stress thinner power cords.” As the temperature increases, the ability of a wire to carry electricity decreases.

GreenTech Heat took this into consideration when we selected the cord to include with our heaters. “Our power cords might be green because we’re GreenTech Heat, but the research and engineering behind them is solid. We chose a bright green cord to help improve visibility and reduce opportunities for a technician to trip on the cords.” Mr. Rios relates, “Our power cords are a heavy-duty, 12 gauge cord with a lighted end which makes it easy to see your power is flowing. These cords are heavily insulated to take the heat we know they will operate in.”

Choosing the proper power cord is more than selecting a coordinating color. “Wire thickness is important. 12 gauge cords are the minimum thickness to ensure consistent power availability.” Mr Costello continues, “You also want to ensure you have a good ground connection. I keep a power plug circuit checker in my toolkit to make sure we will have a safe treatment.”

Cord length is another important consideration. GreenTech Heat safety guidelines limit 12-gauge cords to a maximum length of 50 feet and suggest limiting connections to two 25-foot 12-gauge cords. Mr Rios advises, “Anything over 50 feet should be a single cord, and single-cord lengths longer than 75 feet must use a 10 gauge extension cord.”

GreenTech Heat takes jobsite heat treatment safety seriously. Consult the safety procedures in our Heat Treatment Field Guide for additional information.

GreenTech Heat technology is also 100% effective for bed bugs, cockroaches, termites, and all other insects. GreenTech Heat equipment allows you to self-treat with heat on your schedule and as your needs demand. Our certified training lets you do it right and do it safely the first time. Heat safely kills insects and microbes everywhere they may be found in a single one-day treatment. Call us at 888-699-3944. We have bed bug heaters for sale to get started with heat today.

What People Say

The Titan 450 is an amazing heater! Temps are fantastic and quickly lethal. This is a game changer for me.

Joshua Foster, Zap Pest
Orangevale, CA