insulation for hot water baseboard heat

Kathy_4

What type of insulation should we use for hot water baseboard heat supply and return lines? It is a loop system, 17 years old. We just purchased this house.

Brad White

For hot water

Armacell "Armaflex" is good and easy to apply. For that matter, so is fiberglass.

Personally, I use 3/4" thick Armaflex for convenience but frankly, the R value per inch is about the same as fiberglass. Thus 3/4" Armaflex is less effective, academically speaking, than fiberglass. (Armaflex does not come in 1" thickness that I can find.)

Your hot water system will be the hardest working most beneficial 17 year old you will have at home.

While you are thinking of insulating the piping, take some time to assess your thermal envelope too. That pays bigger dividends, not that you asked

Ken_40

Perhaps none?

The heat losses from exposed, bare, copper tubing is not insignificant, but rarely impact system performance; unlike steam - where un-insulated pipes is a system "killer."

The real issue then becomes, where does the heat lost from bare tubing go? If it stays in areas that benefit from that heat - don't insulate it! If the bare pipe passs thru area(s) that are overheated already - or rarely occupied, insulation is warranted, especially if you're doing it yourself!

Stay away from the black rubber foams. They are relatively expensive, more designed to prevent condensation and or simplicity of installation, but have a poorer R-value than white fiberglass covering. Knauf makes the one I'd choose. Many boiler and pipe-selling wholesalers carry both types. One (Yorkflex-like and black rubberized foam)used for A/C and anti-condensing purposes, the white stuff with fiberglass is specifically made for insulating hot pipes.

You could go either way. The real cheap stuff made of plastic (not rubber-like) foam - is junk IMO.

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ALH_4

Armaflex

I have used 1" thickness Armaflex self sealing tube on 1" pipes. Not sure if 1" wall thickness is available in smaller pipe sizes.

Brad White

Andrew

Where did you get 1"? I was told even a week ago that it was not available. Shame on me for taking their word for it...

Thanks

Brad

ALH_4

Armaflex

It was a couple years ago that I last used it, but the Armacell website still says 1" thickness. We got it from the MacArthur Company in Billings.

Wilson_2

Insulation

The guy in the Xtreme Mechanicals post on The Wall looks llike he used both fiberglass and foam. I don't know if it's cost effective, but maybe ask him why?