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Should I insulate the 3/4 pex for my modine hydronic garage heater?

clydesdale
clydesdale Member Posts: 46
The pex is running in my basement for about 65 feet, then in the garage for 25 feet. We ran the pex side by side for about 20 feet in the basement, the rest was separated and attached by snapping clips. Is it worth it to insulate them? If so, how would I insulate the runs that side by side? In those situations, two clips are abutted to each other and the pex then runs parallel side by side, supply and return. Thanks.

Comments

  • Zman
    Zman Member Posts: 7,561
    My calculator does not have a setting for pex. Here is what an uninsulated copper pipe would lose with and without 1/2" foam.

    The question is, is losing the heat to the space a big deal? In the case of the garage, I would think not as you are trying to heat the space anyway.
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"
    Albert Einstein
  • Leonard
    Leonard Member Posts: 903
    Gut feel is uninulated PEX will just be slightly better than uninsulated copper. Lot more lossey than copper and insulation
  • NY_Rob
    NY_Rob Member Posts: 1,370
    Like Zman mentioned.. you may want the extra heat from the un-insulated pipes.

    When I switched from atmospheric to mod-con boiler my basement became much colder, I ended up removing some of the insulation on the supply runs to add a little heat back into the room.
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,019
    If you want, or need all the heat energy at the Modine then insulate. The Modine will transfer that energy better than the wall of pex.
    The loss from the pex many not amount to much, measure temperature where it leaves the boiler and where it arrives
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    Gordy
  • clydesdale
    clydesdale Member Posts: 46
    Thanks guys. I will see how much of a temperature difference there is. I have another question. Someone mentioned to me that the return line should be pitched down towards the boiler. I certainly did not do that. There are long runs where it is simply snapped into clips under the joists. There are long runs where it is flat. There will be a relief valve at the top of the heater to bleed off air. Do I really need to worry about the pitch of return?
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 4,775
    The relief valve is NOT for bleeding off air, An Air Scoop or Spiro Vent is for air removal!
    SuperTech
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 1,880
    You have a circulator that gets the water back to your boiler.The need for pitch back to your boiler is not an issue. Besides, the lines are always under pressure. No pitch is needed
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,019

    Thanks guys. I will see how much of a temperature difference there is. I have another question. Someone mentioned to me that the return line should be pitched down towards the boiler. I certainly did not do that. There are long runs where it is simply snapped into clips under the joists. There are long runs where it is flat. There will be a relief valve at the top of the heater to bleed off air. Do I really need to worry about the pitch of return?

    Thanks guys. I will see how much of a temperature difference there is. I have another question. Someone mentioned to me that the return line should be pitched down towards the boiler. I certainly did not do that. There are long runs where it is simply snapped into clips under the joists. There are long runs where it is flat. There will be a relief valve at the top of the heater to bleed off air. Do I really need to worry about the pitch of return?

    More likely an air bleeder of some sorts up high on the heater?

    No need to worry about pitch, although avoiding high spots assures good air removal
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • clydesdale
    clydesdale Member Posts: 46
    edited February 2019

    Thank you so much for the clarification on the pitch and air removal. Above is a picture of the two potential pex routes up to the heater. One is using a metal PEX bend support and therefore a more defined corner. The other is just using a gradual bend and pex clips to the wall. Both setups are already using a bend support in the corner before it. You will see it in the picture. Which way is more desirable? I like the look of the more direct bend, but want to make sure that it is not restrictive. Thanks.
  • Zman
    Zman Member Posts: 7,561
    You are overthinking the 90's. The harder 90's look nicer. Cutting in 90 fittings would also be acceptable. I am curious why you ran it so low across the room where it could be damaged?
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"
    Albert Einstein
    SuperTech
  • clydesdale
    clydesdale Member Posts: 46
    Hmmm, that is a good question. I had to come out of the basement into the garage low, where that electrical conduit comes out. I then just followed the electrical conduit. I will look at the wall again and see if I can run that differently. I could come up the wall a bit, but will always have to be below the large structural steel beam that runs perpendicular along the ceiling.
  • clydesdale
    clydesdale Member Posts: 46
    I attached a new picture that will show where exits from the basement down on the left to across the garage wall and up to the heater. Notice the structural steel beam that limits the height where I can go with the PEX. I am thinking of changing the run so at the end of the long wall it goes up towards the heater and crosses near the top as opposed to being on that back window wall. The other option is coming up from the elbows that come out of the basement and then running across at the height of the structural beam.
  • SuperTech
    SuperTech Member Posts: 2,137
    I wouldn't leave it like that. It just looks wrong. Ideally the pipes would be behind the sheetrock, but if you must leave it exposed I would run it as high as possible and insulate any exposed piping.
  • clydesdale
    clydesdale Member Posts: 46
    I have to come into the garage low. So, I guess I can turn the 90s so that the Pex goes straight up the wall and then across at the height of the beam. Do you guys think that would be better and then just a short section near the ceiling of the window wall? That would get it all up high.
  • SuperTech
    SuperTech Member Posts: 2,137
    I think it would be better, just keep it all clamped down nicely like you have it, it's good to see someone run PEX without it sagging down in multiple locations.
  • clydesdale
    clydesdale Member Posts: 46
    I think I am going to leave where the pex is, but shield it. If I bring it up to where the beam is, it will be in the middle of a clean wall, where as in its current location, there is the electrical conduit and the concrete bump out. So, can someone recommend one of those faux gutter looking covers? It essentially a line set cover for HVAC. I could cover the pex with that and then paint it to match the wall. I think that could really solve the problem and look good.
  • NY_Rob
    NY_Rob Member Posts: 1,370
    I used the Fortress lineset covers for my mini-split last summer.. pretty decent overall.

    Don't think they're paintable, but they offer a few different colors.

    https://skipthewarehouse.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=fortress

  • clydesdale
    clydesdale Member Posts: 46
    Great. Thank you.