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Learn more about insulating boiler pipes and how you can protect your boiler from freezing.
Insulating Boiler Pipes
Pipes play an important role in your water heating system. However, boiler pipes that are outside the heated areas can potentially reduce heat while those that run outside your home can easily freeze up during winter. Insulation of your boiler pipes, when done properly, can help you save energy.
Insulation is a term used to refer to products that are used as a barrier between areas that have significant differences in temperature, reducing heat loss or heat gain. In other words, insulation is material that serves as a thermal barrier to keep the heat from entering one area (i.e. your home).
Here are some benefits of insulating boiler pipes:
- lower risk of pipes freezing in the cold weather
- lower heat loss from pipes to the surrounding air.
- reduced energy costs.
- better delivery of hot water
- lower problems concerning lack of hot water.
Remember to take the following into consideration:
- Only insulate hot pipes in the living area if they are making the room too warm.
- Insulate pipes that run between floors only if there are significant droughts around them.
- Insulating boiler pipes is an investment. Do not use old or cheap material. Buying good quality material is worth it – the extra cost is small, and is outweighed by the benefit. The thicker the material, the better.
- An experienced contractor should take care of large pipe insulation jobs, while small pipe insulation jobs can be done DIY by you or your building staff.
- Follow the manufacturer’s specifications when insulating boiler pipes. Make sure you comply with applicable codes and regulations.
- You may need to consult with your local municipality / government regarding fire regulations.
- If your piping has asbestos, DO NOT touch it. Asbestos is very dangerous to your health. Only a professional asbestos removal company should handle your piping to mitigate or remove the old asbestos.
- Damaged refractory and the insulation around it must be repaired by a gas safe registered engineer.
- The recommended insulation thickness on piping is 2.5 cm and 5 cm on boilers.
Get more help on insulating boiler pipes from our experts at RJ Gas today.
