Insulating underground hot water pipes

Wayne from White Salmon

I'm getting ready to install a wood fired hot water boiler in my shop (garn or AHS I think), and I'll need to run hot water and return lines to my house about 120 feet away.

I want to lay 3/4" copper lines, solder the joints, and insulate them with foam pipe insulation, then encase both in a single 4" plastic pipe. I'll bury this well below frost line. The lines will be part of a closed loop system, and will have glycol in them. Its heat loss, not freezing, that I'm concerned about.

The system will provide primary heat for my radiant in floor system in the house, and heat my woodshop as well.

Is this insulation adequate? What kind of insulation is required, and what products should I use in this application if my idea won't work?

Finally, can I use copper with soldered joints in a hot water system? I expect water temps to be less than 180 deg.

Thanks for your input. With rain coming, I need to get my pipes in the ground next week!

Wayne
waynec@gorge.net

kevin coppinger_4

Use PEX

copper is really out of the question.
You can get insulated/Tubing/conduit all in one.
It is not cheap but it will save time AND be a better set up. Wirsbo/ ECOFlex makes it.kpc

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Jeff Lawrence_24

ecoflex

Pre-insulated, long runs, no joints to leak....

EcoFlex

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hr

I use

www.insulseal.com

It is an insulated PVC condiut. You can slide whatever pipe, or pipes you want into it. Including a hot and cold water line for DHW! I can install two- 1" PAP lines, two-3/4" lines and one-1/2" in 3"p

I also add a few extra pex tubes for low voltage wiring to monitor the boiler from inside the home.

Actually copper may not be a bad idea after you price the options mentioned

I've seen more than one wood burner melt the pex off the back of a run away stove.

The beauty of InsulSeal is you can remove, and replace the piping if necessary.

Be leary of some of the inexpensive foam in trench methods! If the insulation gets wet you will really suck heat from those lines. InsulSeal glues together inside, AND has a waterproof jacket.

hot rod

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