Insulating Pex Tubing

Keith_8

It makes $ sense to insulate heat piping in an unheated area.

In my own home I didn't insulate the piping that ran thru interior conditioned space. I should have. My thought was why worry about heat being given up with uninsulated piping on an interior room? The heat isn't being wasted it's being distributed in the living area.

However some of the piping runs inside one of the walls in my closet. The closet is the recipient of those discarded btu's. Not exactly the place I'm looking to heat.

Utility costs keep escalating. It's time to tighten up!

Keith

[Deleted User]

Insulating Pex Tubing

In a hydro air system with pex tubing running from the boiler to an air handler in the attic does it make sense to insulate the pex tubing in the basement?

Also the pex tubing in the attic is exposed above the insulation...should this be insulated?

Thanks for your help.

Jed_2

Think

common "freaking" sense!

Jed

Bob_36

I understand that it makes sense to insulate the pex runs in the basement that feed the upper floor rads. My question is, should the returns be insulated as well? The reason I ask this is, i read that if you have a condensing boiler, the cooler the return water the more the boiler will condense. So which is better for the efficiency of the boiler? More condesing or insulated returns?

Keith_8

placement of btu's

> I understand that it makes sense to insulate the

> pex runs in the basement that feed the upper

> floor rads. My question is, should the returns be

> insulated as well? The reason I ask this is, i

> read that if you have a condensing boiler, the

> cooler the return water the more the boiler will

> condense. So which is better for the efficiency

> of the boiler? More condesing or insulated

> returns?



Bob,
Once I made the comment to a JCI employee regarding the usefulness of tighteng up the envelope of a structure.

My point was that we have spent the last 15 years tightening up the envelope of a structure, only to find out that the buildings are not capable of enough air changes per hour to be healthy to the occupants without the aid of mechanical ventilation.

His point was... yes that is accurate but don't you think it makes sense to be able to control the situation and direct ventilation were it's required?

My question to you is... while it's beneficial to capture as much heat from the flue gases as possible to realize condensation.... doesn't it make sense to put the BTU'S where you need them?

Instead of dumping the BTU'S with uninsulated piping with no discretion. Figure out a way to lower your return temperatures by giving up those BTU'S in the living area.

Keith