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Insulating steam pipe return

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tkos115
tkos115 Member Posts: 94
in Strictly Steam
This might be a question that has been asked a bunch of times, but is it a good idea to also insulate the wet return on a 1 pipe steam system? Or, for the purpose of what i'm doing, is there really any pipe on a steam system that shouldn't be insulated or doesn't need to be? I have been adding missing insulation to my steam mains, and head pipes at the boiler.

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  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,324
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    Well... it never hurts to insulate? But is it worth it? Wet returns -- I'd say don't bother.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,739
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    All my returns are bare to provide minimal heating in my basement, which is a workshop. I don't want it warm, but I don't want to see my breath either.

    My opinion, it depends on how you use your house.
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
  • Shalom
    Shalom Member Posts: 165
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    I insulated my dry returns. Not 100% necessary, but they're all at forehead level and I was tired of smacking my head on them.
    tkos115ethicalpaul
  • tkos115
    tkos115 Member Posts: 94
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    I'll probably leave the returns alone, I don't do much in the basement but a little heat down there probably isn't a bad thing.

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