Should steam return lines be insulated?

Al Cobrin

I was advised when I asked (here) a few weeks ago about whether return lines in a steam system should be insulated, that it's good practice to insulate all lines. So I did just that and insulated all of my return lines with preformed sections of fiberglass insulation.

Now I've read somewhere that "the return pipes should be uninsulated to promote condensation."

My question is: did I do wrong?

DanHolohan

Insulate

The returns are filled with water. The cooler the water gets, the more it will absorb carbon dioxide, which creates carbonic acid, which eats the returns.

Henry's Law.

Boilerpro_3

Thanks for the reminder, Dan.....NM

Gene_3

Ohhhh

Henry

JoeV

My dead men...

...Must not have paid attention in chemistry class. They stopped insulating right after the last radiator in each main.

Al Cobrin

I SEEM to be getting conflicting advice concerning insulating steam return lines. I take it you are saying that they should be insulated to reduce pipe deterioration. That's fine, though my rationale is to reduce gas consumption. Others seem to say that they shouldn't be insulated, and that I should've paid closer attention in chemistry class. Could you be more explicit, please?

DanHolohan

The hotter the return water,

the less it needs to be heated by the boiler. That saves fuel. The hotter condensate is also less likely to damage the pipes by corrosion.

Caselli

return pump ?

They may be thinking there can be an issue if there is a condensate return pump -- re the promotion of condensation.

More so prevention of flashing back into steam on the pump suction side ?

soot_seeker_2

Back then

Fuel oil was 2 cents a gallon when they decited not to insulate those returns.

Now they should be insulated. It can only save money and will slow down the rotting of the returns.