Insulate small diameter PEX tubing?

Rodney Summers

absolutely NOT true with steel or copper tubing in the 3/8 or 1/2 or 3/4" sizes

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jeff miller_2

Insulate small diameter domestic PEX tubing?

For potable water: Does anybody out there insulate the small diameter PEX tubing between the manifold block & the fixtures. Why not insulate the cold tubing for sweating, and insulate the hot for energy conservation? Would armaflex work, or is it just not worth the trouble?

Joe@buderus_2

Insulate

I insulated the 3/4" pex tubing from my domestic hot water tank to DHW manifold (home run system). With the expansion and contraction the insulation would open up quite often till the "glue" was no longer effective. I then used black electrical tape and plastic wire ties. Lots of effort, would hate to have to do all of the pipes.

PeterK

to insulate or not

There isn't an energy savings in insulating small diameter tubing since it increases the outer diameter of the tube. It's hard to explain here but it's covered in college heat transfer courses. It has to do with the insulation increasing the surface area of the tube which causes the convective heat losses to go up. Below about 2" OD it's a loser. I suppose it's ok to prevent sweating though.

jeff miller_2

end of insulate PEX thread

Gentlemen - thank you for your help. I appreciate it very much. This thread is closed.