Steam Pipe Insulation in basement - will it cause another issue?

tomp1987

Have a gas steam Dunkirk boiler in my basement - new ownership. None of the steam pipes are insulated. Small house, only has 6 radiators. Reading up on steam boilers and see that insulating the pipes help improve system performance. Have started that project but then realized that without the insulation, obviously my unfinished basement gets warm with all the pipes hot. My concern is will insulating the pipes make my basement cold enough in the winter that I then need to be concerned about my separate copper water lines freezing? Am I fixing one issue only to create another? Reading that basements typically do not get below 40 degrees even in the dead of winter. I'm wondering if insulating say 80 percent of the footage of bare steam lines would give me 80 percent better heat loss performance but still maintain 20 percent "warmth" in the basement to prevent any freezing. Or does the heat loss math not work out that simply. Have been in the house 3 years and like I said, without the insulation on the steam pipes, the basement definitely stays warm.

ethicalpaul

It won't freeze, but it will freeze faster in case of loss of heating (but heat comes from the earth into your basement in that case, so it's not usually a concern unless the house is unheated for a long time). It might make a slightly noticeable difference in the comfort of some of your floors, depending. It will be noticeably cooler in the basement.

But for more information...where do you live??

EdTheHeaterMan

The radiant heat from the pipes in the basement will undoubtedly create a warmer basement. Is the warmth wasted? Some folks have the washing machine in the basement and use the unfinished basement for other recreational uses, The warmer basement will also keep the first floor warmer.


If the basement is truly an unused space and the heat down there is wasted, then insulating those pipes will reduce the amount of gas used. But will that create an ultra cold basement? Possibly, But that can be measured on the coldest days of the winter. When you hear the forecast for those teens or single digit overnight temps, or even below zero... (we are talking Farenheight here) place a thermometer at the location of the pipes you are worried about and see what the temperature is.


It could be that leaving some uninsulated sections of steam main is all that is necessary.

EdTheHeaterMan

I have no idea how this second post happened

I guess my thumbs are too big
The radiant heat form the pipes in the basement will undougtledy create a warmer basement. Is the warmth wasted heat? Some folks have the washing machine in the basement and use the unfinished basement for other recreational uses. The warmer basement will also keep the floor, on the first floor, warmer.

If the basement is truly an unused space and the heat down there is wasted, then insulating those pipes will reduce the amount of gas used. But will that create an ultra cold basement? Possibly, But that can be measured on this coldest days of the winter. When you heat the forecast for those teens or single digit overnight temps, or even below zero... (we are talking Fahrenheit here) place a thermometer at the location of the pipes you are worried about and see what the temperature is.

It could be that leaving some uninsulated sections of steam main is all that is necessary.

"NEVER MIND"

AdmiralYoda

My house is 130+ years old. The basement is fairly well sealed up but by no means like a much newer home. When we moved in the steam pipes had no insulation and the basement would be in the 80's. After installing 1/2" insulation it stays around 60. If it super cold out the boiler is going to be turning on more often and the giant chunk of cast iron will still heat the basement.

I also heated exclusively with our wood stove on the main floor one winter when money was tight. Even when it was -10 outside for an extended time the basement never got below 40.

I'd go with 1" insulation. Seal up your basement as good as you can and you should be fine.

Jamie Hall

It will make the basement a little cooler -- but unless you are up in the Northwest Territories somewhere, it's unlikely to freeze or even get much below your average year round temperature. What it will do is save some fuel -- and get heat to your radiators upstairs faster.

tomp1987

All great answers - much appreciated guys. And I'm in the Southeast Pennsylvania area.

ethicalpaul

Do you even have winter there now?

KC_Jones

South central PA here 120+ year old house. All pipes insulated, my basement is a workshop that I use regularly. Be feel alone, it’s never cold down there, I can usually work in a T-shirt in the winter. Unless we get steady 15 or less for several days, then a sweatshirt may be needed. And that doesn’t happen very often.

You'll be fine.

EdTheHeaterMan

tomp1987 said:

All great answers - much appreciated guys. And I'm in the Southeast Pennsylvania area.

Go Birds.

The IGGLES are the best... Pulled it out in overtime!

mattmia2

The only thing I would be concerned about is a pipe that is very close to the outside or an outside draft that might have been on the edge of freezing on the pretty cold and windiest days that now gets cold enough to freeze with less heat in the basement.