insulating undergroungd steam returns?

tim smith

What do you guys suggest, we are presently repiping all the old underground condensate pipes on a house, old piping had no insulation or protection, just buried in dirt, very dry hill side home. Wondering what thoughts you all have on insulation/protection for piping on this. Any comments welcomed. Thanks in advance Tim.

Steamhead

Don't run them underground if you can avoid it

but if you have to, copper will last longer than black pipe.

Do not use copper on any pipe that carries steam.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

tim smith

Steam head

Steamhead, what about insulating, what do you think. has to go underground due to radiator elevation to boiler ht.

Steamhead

You want to keep them dry

maybe insulate them and encase them in gravel before backfilling. If there is a drain or sump-pump in the area you might want to route any water there from the gravel bed.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Brad White_2

Careful of gravel

with expansion and contraction gravel (crushed stone) will shred any insulation if not the pipe itself. I would suggest insulating in fiberglass, at least an inch thick, then sliding a piece of SCH 40 PVC pipe over the buried portion. Seal the ends with spray foam and paint for UV protection. Just a thought.

tim smith

Thanks guy's for the input

[Deleted User]

We insulate

all under floor/ground piping w/ foam insulation. Available @ any insulation supply house. Did our first steam return w/ foam 25+ years ago. Still there.

clammy

trouth

I don't think it's speeld right but i've done this a number of times with great success .You install a drainage trouth and run your returns in it and just get 4 ft section of steel to cover it ,it good for basemnts and buried returns it leave you acess to it for good and is well worth it later for service should promblem arise .I personally would insulate it with fiberglass and do it in steel it lasted 40 or 50 years and i've seen them last 90 just use tee's instead of 90 where it makes sense for flushing good luck and peace clammy

Tom Blackwell

It depends on where the heat from the uninsulated pipe goes. If the heat loss ends up un the basement or house, then there is no need to add insulation because the btu's aren't wasted. If, however the losses don't end up in the house, then insulation would be needed. Fiberglass with a pvc outer jacket works well in a dry environment.

tim smith

Thanks guy's

We finished and backfilled yesterday, replaced all undergrounds with steel (domestic)! Insulated with fiberglass also. There is no ground water on the hill here so was not worried about water. The old pipe had no insulation and had 0 sign of exterior corrosion except in the area where it corrode from inside out. Then proceeded in corroded outside of pipe. Old return was 70 yrs old, not bad. Concrete gets poured tommorow.