insulation

cn30

Is there any reason not to insulate the near-boiler piping on the outlet side--header and large pipes feeding the mains? It seems all the pictures people post of their boilers show bare pipe here. Mine's the same--currently the insulation starts on the mains, and I'm losing heat between the boiler and the mains.

BobC

Insuate everything you can reach.

It is very important to insulate the header and the mains feeders, if fact I would insulate all the steam carrying pipes I could reach and then all the return return piping. Use a minimum of 1" pipe insulation; it you can't afford pipe insulation use fiberglass bat insulation that is cut to size.



It makes everything work better and it saves fuel. A lot of the pictures were taken before insulation was done to show the piping more clearly.



Bob

cn30

thanks

I'll do that. As for insulating the dry returns (mine are except for a couple of feet), any chance of overheating the condensate? I have a tank and condensate feed pump, and it says best operation is with the water at 160 degrees and that the pump may not work well above 190. It doesn't say it will fail, though

Jamie Hall

No insulation on near boiler piping

Seems to me that you see pictures with no insulation on the near boiler piping is so that one can see the piping in the pictures -- they should be insulated.  Right down to the boiler -- everything that will see steam.



If your system is working properly -- particularly two pipe -- you shouldn't have a problem with hot condensate, simply because it shouldn't be above 180 anyway when it leaves the radiators, if the traps are working properly!  The restriction on the condensate feed pump is correct though: if the condensate is too hot, it is very likely that cavitation will occur in the eye of the pump impeller.  At best this reduces the pump efficiency; at worst, it will destroy the pump.

crash2009

I don't know

about the tank but all the rest should be insulated.  It sure makes the boiler quiet.  Less chance of a skin burn while working in the area around the boiler.  Not sure if you need this at all but here is a shortcut to my entire insulation file.  There is a bunch of how to suggestions, some internet suppliers, as well as some calculators that will tell you how much you can save.



http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-thread/137178/Insulation

gerry gill

yes, you should insulate

all exposed steam carrying pipes..we leave most near boiler piping uninsulated tho cause most of the houses used the heat from the large coal boiler to heat the basement..the new smaller gas oil boilers don't emit much heat, so the near boiler piping helps heat the basement..some customers don't want the heat in the basement, or are ultra energy concious..for those we do insulate.