Fiberglass Pipe Insulation - Advice
I’m going to wrap all the steam heating pipes in my basement with those fiberglass insulation tubes. Is the 2″ thick much more efficient and worth the extra cost than the 1″ thick? Any brands to go with or is it all the same stuff basically? I need a lot so any suggestions on good…
I’m going to wrap all the steam heating pipes in my basement with those fiberglass insulation tubes.
Is the 2″ thick much more efficient and worth the extra cost than the 1″ thick? Any brands to go with or is it all the same stuff basically?
I need a lot so any suggestions on good places to get it from would be appreciated- hopefully at a decent price like a wholesale plumbing supply?
Master Plumber can you share the name of your “insulation sub contractor”. Or can anyone else give recs for someone to prof. wrap basement steam heating pipes?
I know it’s not rocket science but…
Hrmmm not sure why my response wasn’t posted anyway here goes again.
@MP- Thanks for the compliment. I based my advice upon ASHRAE 90.1 and nearly every spec I have worked under. Granted AHSRAE 90.1 takes exception tolow rise residential buildings. Here is what they have to say:
The minimum insulation thicknesses based upon ASHRAE 90.1 do not necessarily represent the Economic Thickness of Insulation or the thickness required for proper condensation control. Rather, they serve as minimum recommendations for commercial applications. For recommended Economic Thickness and Systems Design, install according to NAIMA ETI program
( 3E Plus) or as specified.
Just saying, the values I advised are based on experience and the jobs I do are not typically subject to the stringent economic concerns of the typical homeowner.
-SteamMan
I always was curious why heating pipes have to be wrapped into expensive fiberglass and not cheap Styrofoam. Given that both have the same R-Value.
To MP’s point – you can calculate effective area of radiators and compare to the effective area of the pipe. So this would the portion you spend on hitting up basement. Then you can reduce the portion by the R-value of 1″ and 2″ insulation and see what is additional saving you will have as a ratio to the total house heating.
But also do not forget that you can insulate heating pipes to crazy level and your basement temperature will go below freezing point and water pipe will freeze.
With all due respect to the highly-knowledgeable SteamMan, I’ve got no figures on hand, but have always been led to believe that 1″ of fiberglass insulation does 95% of the insulating you’ll ever get and that the cost of picking up that remaining 5% negates your initial investment.
That’s actually a Dan thing. But I don’t like to tell him he’s right if I can avoid it.
Truth be told, I use an insulation sub because he does a better job than I ever could, and he uses 1.5″ almost exclusively, regardless of what I tell him.
Ok, interesting- I actually spoke to a guy at Allstate just now and he said 1″ thick would be fine for the 2 and 3″ steampipes, especially since they were inside a basement.
And they did seem to have good prices too, just as you said.
2″ thick insulation on any pipe over 1″, 1″ insulation on anything 1″ or less. Any wrap the elbows and tees, don’t be a cheapskate. The nut on a union can be left exposed. Fiberglass only, and stay away from the Home Depot insulation, it’s 1/2″ and isn’t worth the boat it sailed over here on…
-SteamMan
SteamMan- you would go for the 1″ as well over the added cost of the 2″?
That’s the spot..
Steamman recomended this place a while back, and I found them to be the cheapest local supplier:
Allstate Insulation 56-23 55TH AVENUE
MASPETH, NY 11378
PHONE: 718-894-2345
FAX: 718-894-4966
They delivered for free as well, but I had a decent sized order (>$500). I had good results with 1″ thick insulation…some say 2″ isn’t worth the extra expense.