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!

Insulation for steam pipes in basement

Options
angelotrivelli
angelotrivelli Member Posts: 38
in Strictly Steam

For my project this year, I am going to insulate the pipes going-from and returning-to my steam boiler. Should have done it years ago but never got to it.

I went on supplyhouse to look for some but they don’t seem to carry fiberglass, just something called “k-flex” which they claim is rated for 300F. It appears to be EPDM based. Is it OK?

What does the brain trust here recommend? Is online good, or is this something I should collect in person?

I think a previous owner had asbestos, but that was long gone before I got here. So now I have a chance to do it right.

Comments

  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 3,334

    1" would be your best bet . Use the boots for the fittings , buy a roll of the tape , and order 20% from what ever you figure ..

    Its a sightless cost ,but you will feel better ..

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

    angelotrivelliWaher
  • dandub1960
    dandub1960 Member Posts: 50

    If the per foot price leaves you gagging you can also just cut up waterheater blanket and tape the outer shell.

    Steward to 1923 Spanish revival near Chicago - 2 pipe steam 650 EDR shiny new Peerless 63-06

    mattmia2
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,172

    @dandub1960 with all respect I would rateher leave the pipe bare.

    mattmia2Big Ed_4
  • NycNz
    NycNz Member Posts: 1

    @EBEBRATT-Ed any sense in using 2" insulation for better results? Does the fiberglass and PVC come in this thickness? Thanks

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,673

    it comes in many thickness. There comes a point where you never get the return on investment so is it worth the extra $’s?

  • The Steam Whisperer
    The Steam Whisperer Member Posts: 1,313

    IIRC looking at the curve of cost effectiveness of insulation, the elbow was right around 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch thick. If your energy costs are high, then going thicker might be better. However, you still need some heat in most basements, so I have found using one inch on steam mains and leaving the branches and fittings uninsulated provide a good heat balance. In boiler rooms I try to cover just about everything, since these spaces tend to be warm and the heated air is lost up the chimney very quickly

    To learn more about this professional, click here to visit their ad in Find A Contractor.
  • angelotrivelli
    angelotrivelli Member Posts: 38

    OP here just wanted to report back. I spent an afternoon insulating my steam pipes in the basement both source and return. (Got them shipped from the place @pecmsg recommended). It was 1 inch thick fiberglass.

    Wow!

    I wish I had done this years ago but I was too lazy. The upper floors heat up great now. I actually do have some of the bigger pipes near the boiler left to insulate (wanted to get the straight long runs taken care of first). The difference is amazing and immediate.

    Thanks everybody!

    bburdPC7060
  • gfrbrookline
    gfrbrookline Member Posts: 770

    I use 2" on the mains and 1" on the runouts and returns. Seems to work well for me. I buy them at buyinsulationproducts.com.

Categories