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Steam Mains Insulation???

John W.
John W. Member Posts: 1
in THE MAIN WALL
Hello, I just purchased a home with an old steam radiator/boiler system. The main pipes are completely uninsulated and a ton of heat is being wasted. My question is what kind of insulation can be used to wrap around these pipes. An article on this website says that batt insulation and duct tape can be used on the piping. Is this true? These pipes get awfully hot and I am just trying to verify if this is true before I buy the supplies? Anyone have an quick and easy (inexpensive is good too) ways of safely covering these? I assume there used to be asbestos on these. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thank you!!!

Comments

  • David Efflandt
    David Efflandt Member Posts: 152
    fiberglass pipe insulation

    Best and easiest to work with is fiberglass pipe insulation properly sized for the pipe. Plastic foam insulation intended for water pipes tends to deform or creep (I tried that on a riser pipe).

    I did use foil lined batt insulation on exposed near boiler piping from when previous owner replaced boiler. I tied it on with twine, sealed seams with metal duct tape, then removed twine. Not the easiest to work with, but better than nothing for an unfinished basement. Other piping did have fiberglass pipe insulation.
  • Zorian Pinsky
    Zorian Pinsky Member Posts: 21
    Fiberglass Pipe Insulation - working on the same task

    John, hi!

    I am working on the same project and am about to complete it. I am using pre-sized fiberglass tubes as depicted on these websites. It is easy to do.
    http://www.thomas-insulation.com/catalog/index.htm
    http://www.jm.com/insulation/performance_materials/products/MicroLok_CI34F.pdf

    Check your local insulation distributors - the price varies. I found, with some difficulties, thickness of the insulation on Internet – the same table/guidance at a couple of universities websites for their maintenance people and contractors. However, per an advice of one installer and software that I used, I reduced that thickness by 1/2" due to small financial benefits of complying with those suggested thicknesses. The size of the insulation I used is following:
    3” & 2 ½ “ pipes – 1 ½” thickness.
    2”, 1 ½” & 1 ¼” pipes – 1” thickness.

    Good luck!
  • Robert O'Connor_3
    Robert O'Connor_3 Member Posts: 272
    Me Too!

    John, I am also in the same boat as you. I would also like to know if batt insulation can be used. Seems to me that a 32' length R-13 piece of batt could cover a lot more ground at a lot less price. I think we both would like a good answer as to whether batt can be used on steam piping and, if so, what are the problems?
  • Dave_23
    Dave_23 Member Posts: 190
    Pipe insulation source

    > John, I am also in the same boat as you. I would

    > also like to know if batt insulation can be used.

    > Seems to me that a 32' length R-13 piece of batt

    > could cover a lot more ground at a lot less

    > price. I think we both would like a good answer

    > as to whether batt can be used on steam piping

    > and, if so, what are the problems?



    I've had pretty good luck with Knauf insulation. Check the following link. Call their sales dept to find a local distributor in your area.

    http://www.knauffiberglass.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=prd.dspProdDetail&ID=1
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