Steam Pipe Insulation
I had a section of asbestos insulation removed from a 35′ long steam pipe in my basement (single pipe steam heat system). I’d like to re-insulate it with a safe material. What is the recommended material to re-wrap the pipe and where can I buy it? Also, what is the preferred material for insulating vertical…
I had a section of asbestos insulation removed from a 35′ long steam pipe in my basement (single pipe steam heat system).
I’d like to re-insulate it with a safe material.
What is the recommended material to re-wrap the pipe and where can I buy it?
Also, what is the preferred material for insulating vertical steam pipes (the ones that run between floors of the house)? The top floors of my house are a sauna and the bottom floor is like a meat locker.
btw, you can buy the fiberglas tubes at any home depot.
There’s no such thing as insulation for residential pipes at 850F. Steam is 220!
You need to insulate it well if it is not meant to heat the basement. You could even insulate the return pipe, it will save you money. Pipe wrap works too, but the fibergals tubes are best.
you want to make sure you use material rated for high heat (think the standard is 850 F)
non-combustible is also good (if not required)
I have read that even foam rated for high heat will deteriorate over time.
not sure i’d use the foam stuff on heat pipes. that stuff’s more for insulating water pipes from cold, i think. (at least that’s how i’ve used it.)
the fiberglass tubes work very well. i had very hot heat pipes running through a closet once, and the tubes saved my shoes.
also, elastomeric(?) heat paint does cut down on the amount of heat that pipes give off. that’s a good solution if you don’t want to eliminate all the heat coming off a pipe.
Not hard to find heat pipe insulation sleeves. You need to know the diameter of the heat pipes so that you can buy the right insulation. Make sure you know the total length of pipes that need to be covered.
Ive used both:
* paper covered fiberglass: comes with one side open and a self adhesive strip to close up the insulating ‘sleeve.’
* a hard dark foam – same idea: one side slit open with an adhesive strip to close the sleeve up.
You trim them with a utility knife or box cutter.
Hope this helped.
V from G
do a search in the archives, i posted this exact question a few months back.
Fiberglass insulation, one half-inch thick or more, is best when replacing asbestos.