Is savings still possible if only insulation is on boiler room pipes?

milachyo · February 13

I have a situation where only the boiler room pipes are accessible and I'm looking to put insulation on those pipes. I know that it should also include any mains which would be ideal but in this case is not possible. I am told that a customer will not see significant savings unless ALL the pipes are insulated. I believe that some insulation is better than none.

Is it not worthwhile to insulate what you can rather than leave the pipes bare?

I've been lurking on this site for almost a year soaking up as much information as I can. You all are awesome.

Thank you

Jamie Hall · February 13

I'd say to insulate what you can get out. Pity the mains aren't accessible, though — that's where the real advantages start to appear.

ethicalpaul · February 13

It's worthwhile to partially insulate, if by "worthwhile" you mean you would like less heat in the boiler room. As for payback, that's a tough one to figure out. Depending on the situation, you get a lot of boiler room heat moving into the living space. If the boiler room is cold and drafty due to outside walls and bad rim joist sealing, then you'll lose more of that heat and insulation may payback better.

But in no case should the customer expect to notice this in their monthly bills.

Leaving them bare will have no effect on the performance of the boiler especially if it's piped at all correctly.

delcrossv · February 13

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1842362#Comment_1842362

Well, steam will get to the radiators faster if the mains are insulated. Noticeably so? Maybe, maybe not. Did half the building that was uninsulated and there was a big improvement in getting heat to the apartments on that side. (thermostat was on the "hot" side of the building)

ethicalpaul · February 13

The OP can't reach the mains, only the near boiler piping. But your point remains true enough for those pipes too.

EdTheHeaterMan · February 13

Is there something "man made" keeping you from insulating the main piping and all the branch runs to the radiators? Seems like someone could remove that barrier to insulate the pipes the a man can put that barrier back as if no one was even there. But will the cost of all that work be offset by the savings. Maybe… maybe not.

ethicalpaul · February 13

You are thinking there's like a natural rock formation or lava flow in the way, Ed? Seems like it must be a man-made hindrance.

delcrossv · February 13

Long Beach Ed · February 13

Cost/benefit is a complex calculation. Insulating the piping around the boiler will improve performance and is part of a good heating system. Will the improvement be notable? That depends on the system.

There's a right and wrong way of doing any job. The right way of installing a steam system includes insulating as much of it as possible. The wrong way is to have no pipes insulated.

Decisions must be made.

Is savings still possible if only insulation is on boiler room pipes?

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