How to Install Copper Pipe Insulation

Abst： Both forms of insulation materials are going to save you money in the end, but it is vital to determine which is the most practical and cost effective for your piping system.

Both forms of insulation materials are going to save you money in the end, but it is vital to determine which is the most practical and cost effective for your piping system.

While copper pipe has excellent thermal conductivity, able to hold and carry the heat from hot water pipes, the pipes do lose heat and should be insulated. Moreover, the U.S. Department of Energy states that insulated hot water pipes can raise the temperature of your water by as much as 4 degrees, enabling you to lower your hot water tank temperature to save energy. Insulate your copper pipes with a flexible, prefabricated insulation material called neoprene pipe insulation wrap. This pipe wrap is slitted on one side and features a self-sealing adhesive seam that easily secures the slits together

1
Determine the pipe insulation size you will need for your pipes. Wrap the measuring tape around one of the copper pipes and measure the circumference. Most water supply copper pipes are 3/4 inches in diameter. Purchase the correct neoprene insulation for your pipe size.

2
Measure the length of the pipe section to insulate. Cut the insulation with a utility knife and a sharp blade to avoid burrs or jagged edges while cutting.

3
Open the slitted end of the insulation wrap and slide it onto the pipe. Compress the insulation around the pipe with your hands to ensure a tight fit.

4
Remove the adhesive tape strip and press to seal the two slits together.

5
Add the next section of insulation wrap. Seal the seam between the two insulation wraps with duct tape. Press the tape firmly to ensure a tight seal. Continue adding additional sections of insulation wrap.

With chilled insulation, keeping the cold in is as important as keeping the heat out. There are many types of insulation used on chilled water pipes. The two most popular are foam glass and rubber insulation or Armaflex. Although a little more difficult to work with than pre molded fiberglass, when installed correctly, these materials do a great job of stopping condensation and preventing energy loss.
What Is the Difference?

The difference between hot and cold insulation materials comes down to a few things. Firstly, the materials used in hot insulation covers doesn’t require a water vapor barrier that a cold insulation system needs to properly function. The water vapor barrier helps prevent metal degradation that can occur overtime.

Buildups of condensation occur within cold systems, which require bendable or flexible insulation to deal with this issue. Therefore, the types of metal, fiberglass, foam and other materials used for thermal bridging in cold insulation are much more flexible and moldable than those found in hot insulation materials.

Lastly, closed cell structure is needed in cold insulation to help avoid wicking. The material in high temperature insulations allows water to enter because the heat will cause the moisture to evaporate. However, in a cold insulation system the water will not evaporate. Closed cell structure of the cold insulation material helps prevent this problem.
Wrapping Up

Once the insulation has been chosen, an exterior jacketing must be picked. When the insulation is installed properly and to manufactures suggestions, the covering is usually chosen for the environment it will be exposed to rather than the hot or cold type it is insulating. For interior components, that will not be walked on or subjected to frequent damage, PVC or silicone is normally used. For pipes that may be subjected to frequent damage, metal or thicker PVC can be used.If you want to get more Pipe information ,please to wlpipeline.com.