Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.
If our community has helped you, please consider making a contribution to support this website. Thanks!
Wrong Insulation on Steam Pipes?
Options
JohnG_3
Member Posts: 57
Short time lurker, first post.
I have a gas-fired one-pipe steam system and had the asbestos insulation removed from our steam pipes fourteen years ago and never bothered to reinsulate the pipes. From reading this site I have learned that this not an uncommon situation.
So, a few weeks ago, I finally reinsulated the pipes. Unfortunately, I think I used the wrong stuff. I used polyethylene insulation (http://www.tundrafoam.com/tundra/pipe_index.html), which I'm now reasonably sure is intended for hot water pipes but not steam pipes. I have two questions: 1) is the polyethylene insulation safe, and 2) is it reasonably effective? I believe it's rated for something like 215 degrees, so it has almost no margin. The outside of the insulation feels warm/hot to the touch when the system is distributing steam, so I know I'm still getting some heat loss. However, the basement feels a lot colder than it did before I installed this insulation, so I believe it's doing something.
Should I scrap this insulation and install fiberglass, or move on to the next series of problems (venting the mains, replacing radiator vents, cleaning/replacing pressuretrols, etc.)?
I have a gas-fired one-pipe steam system and had the asbestos insulation removed from our steam pipes fourteen years ago and never bothered to reinsulate the pipes. From reading this site I have learned that this not an uncommon situation.
So, a few weeks ago, I finally reinsulated the pipes. Unfortunately, I think I used the wrong stuff. I used polyethylene insulation (http://www.tundrafoam.com/tundra/pipe_index.html), which I'm now reasonably sure is intended for hot water pipes but not steam pipes. I have two questions: 1) is the polyethylene insulation safe, and 2) is it reasonably effective? I believe it's rated for something like 215 degrees, so it has almost no margin. The outside of the insulation feels warm/hot to the touch when the system is distributing steam, so I know I'm still getting some heat loss. However, the basement feels a lot colder than it did before I installed this insulation, so I believe it's doing something.
Should I scrap this insulation and install fiberglass, or move on to the next series of problems (venting the mains, replacing radiator vents, cleaning/replacing pressuretrols, etc.)?
0
Comments
-
melting
Polyethylene typically isn't used on steam because of melting potential.There was an error rendering this rich post.
0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 87.4K THE MAIN WALL
- 3.2K A-C, Heat Pumps & Refrigeration
- 61 Biomass
- 429 Carbon Monoxide Awareness
- 120 Chimneys & Flues
- 2.1K Domestic Hot Water
- 5.8K Gas Heating
- 115 Geothermal
- 167 Indoor-Air Quality
- 3.7K Oil Heating
- 77 Pipe Deterioration
- 1K Plumbing
- 6.5K Radiant Heating
- 395 Solar
- 15.7K Strictly Steam
- 3.4K Thermostats and Controls
- 56 Water Quality
- 51 Industry Classes
- 50 Job Opportunities
- 18 Recall Announcements