Thermal insulation of the heating system: material selection rules and application

Every home owner wants to save on heat. This can be done with the help of thermal insulation of heating pipes.

Any house is not complete without a piping system. They are responsible for the movement of water, heat, air. Heating pipes are considered the main pipes, as they are subject to strict requirements. After all, they should serve for a long time. Their operating conditions may vary. This is a moderate air temperature and severe frosts.

Therefore, when arranging a heating system, it is worth considering how to make reliable insulation. Thermal insulation for heating pipes allows you to reduce heat loss, which affects the savings in money.

It may seem strange to some that heating pipes need to be insulated due to the fact that hot water moves through them. But in this case, it is worth pointing out that when hot water moves at low temperatures, heat is lost. This is based on physical properties.

Therefore, thermal insulation of heating pipes is a necessary procedure for many apartment buildings and private dwellings. Especially if the boiler room or stoker is located away from home.

The arrival of the latest anti-freeze pipes on the market reduces the risk of freezing. But a plug may occur in the channels, which will need to be found and eliminated by heating.

Conducted thermal insulation of heating pipes performs the following functions:

reduction of heat loss in areas where heating pipes are located above the ground, connected by ground fastening, and operate in an unheated room;
prevents freezing of the coolant, which eliminates the breakthrough of the pipeline;
in the case of placing metal tubes, the risk of corrosion is reduced;
preventing the formation of condensate on the outer surface;
increase in sound and vibration isolation for pipelines;
reduction in space heating costs.

For a pipeline located in a basement or other warm room, heat-insulating materials are also needed to increase the air temperature and reduce fuel consumption. After all, the better the heat insulation is carried out, the warmer it will be in the house. Accordingly, there will be no need to buy additional fuel or pay more for electricity.

Insulation for hot water pipes allows you to get warmer water by lowering the set temperature for heating. As a result, you also need to pay a smaller amount.

Insulation of other pipelines, whose task is to move cold water, is carried out due to the extension of the service life.

You also need to use a heat insulator for the chimney. This procedure helps to increase traction and extend the period of use of the pipe.

Please note: modern boilers produce low-temperature exhaust gases, which affects the heating of the chimney. As a result, condensate occurs, which actively interacts with the pipe material, leading to destruction.

Selection rules

In areas where climatic conditions range from high to low temperatures, it is required to use insulation for heating pipes and plumbing.

The materials used must meet the following requirements:

thermal conductivity indicators should be minimal;
resistance to chemical, biological, mechanical influences;
incombustibility;
safety for people and the environment;
the value of the melting temperature must be higher than the temperature of the coolant;
long period of operation;
ease of installation;
excellent sealing qualities;
acceptable price.

A wide range of insulating materials for heating channels on the market allows you to make a choice based on the needs and desires of a person.

Pipe insulation is selected taking into account the following rules:

the cross section of the pipe is taken into account;
the conditions for the functioning of the heating system of the room are analyzed;
the temperature of the heat carrier used is taken into account.

Insulation for pipes of different diameters is selected in relation to installation. For a pipeline with a small diameter, it is worth choosing materials of a cylindrical or semi-cylindrical shape that will be worn on it. For pipes with a large cross section, the use of heat-insulating materials is provided, which are produced in large packages in the form of rolls.

The tubular insulation material is made in a rigid form or a soft, free-form insulation is possible.

Please note: rigid insulation helps prevent mechanical damage due to its dense structure.

Varieties

The heat-insulating material for the pipe can be classified according to the installation technology and material. The installation method determines the following varieties:

Rigid sheet insulation - have a rigid structure, made in a rectangular shape. These include - polystyrene, polystyrene. They are characterized by complex installation, since it is difficult to achieve good sealing of pipes.
Roll materials - are supplied in the form of rolls. are supplied in the form of rolls. These are polyethylene, penofol, mineral wool, glass wool. Assume reliable fastening to ensure tightness.
Segment materials - are shells made of different materials. Known as casing heaters. The shell can be made of expanded polystyrene, polyurethane foam with a rigid structure. Soft execution from polymeric materials is possible. They are characterized by simplified installation, the ability to tightly isolate the surface.
Sprayed insulation materials - are used by spraying a liquid composition. These include penoizol, thermal paint. They are used to create an excellent insulating surface without flaws. They are distinguished by high cost and complex application procedure.

According to the material used, products made of mineral wool, expanded polystyrene, polyurethane foam, penozol, polystyrene foam, polyethylene foam are distinguished.

There are also pipes made of low-density polyethylene (HDPE), which are already insulated and have a waterproofing layer. The insulated HDPE pipe is used for wiring a water supply system through which water flows with a temperature not higher than 40ºС and not lower than 0ºС. When using HDPE pipes, it is necessary to follow the rule that the liquid transported through them must be inert to polyethylene. The pnd 32 pipe, which is used to organize drinking water supply, is considered popular.

Mineral wool

Thermal insulation of pipelines with mineral wool is considered a well-known method of insulation. Differs in low cost and high rates of melting point. Winding with such material is used in many large-scale boiler houses.

In production, the following raw materials can be used:

fiberglass;
slag;
basalt stone.

The advantages of the material include:

cheapness;
low thermal conductivity;
resistance to chemicals;
fire safety;
not affected by putrefactive bacteria.

The disadvantage of the material is the ability of the material to absorb water. Therefore, manufacturers began to produce material that is impregnated to repel moisture. It is produced in the form of rolls or shells for insulation of sewer channels and heating pipelines.

Please note: the installation of mineral wool is carried out in the presence of protective equipment for the respiratory organs and hands (respirator, gloves).

Polyurethane foam

It is characterized by a rigid structure of foam rubber. It exists in liquid form (cylinder) and ready-made shell blanks of various diameters. Heating pipes, insulated with polyurethane foam, are a pipe in a shell.

The advantages of the material include:

monolithic structure;
low thermal conductivity;
operation at high and low temperatures;
resistance to chemical and biological influences.

The disadvantage of the material is the high price. At the same time, the procedure for using polyurethane foam at home is difficult to implement.

It is used in the arrangement of wide heating systems. The joints of heat-insulated pipes are sealed with polyethylene tape or couplings. Foam insulation can be used in a situation of rapid insulation of heating channels, water pipes.

Styrofoam

The material is one having a structure of closed holes. Products are made in the form of plates or shells. The positive qualities of expanded polystyrene allow it to be used as a heater for plastic pipes or metal pipelines:

compressive strength;
minimum conductivity of heat and moisture;
auxiliary waterproofing is not needed;
resistant to biological organisms.

The material is sold on the market at a high price. During operation requires the adoption of measures for fire safety. It is used as a heater for heating pipes and water pipes.

Penoizol

The product is similar to polystyrene foam. Penoizol is a foam applied to a pipe and hardens after drying. The insulating surface is monolithic. It is used in hard-to-reach areas and on connecting elements. It has excellent sealing properties.

Foamed polyethylene and rubber

Polyethylene has closed cells. The shape of the product can be different: cylinder, shell, roll. There are foil options. The foil can be applied on one or both sides.

The positive qualities of polyethylene foam when sealing pipes include:

good strength;
does not conduct heat;
does not absorb moisture and chemicals;
used on pipes of various materials.

A negative quality is considered low resistance to fire.

Foamed rubber is similar in properties to polyethylene, except for the base component. It is made from natural or combined rubber. Differs in elasticity, fire safety and high cost. The materials are used as insulation for heating pipelines, water pipes, ventilation ducts and cold supply systems.

Thermal insulation paint

Thermal paint insulated pipe can withstand large temperature fluctuations. The paint is safe for humans and the environment, resists corrosion, has an excellent appearance. Release form - aerosol.

Please note: one coat of thermal insulation paint can compare to glass wool or styrofoam.

Stages of warming at home

After calculating the area of insulation, you can proceed to the procedure for calculating the heat-insulating material. Having chosen mineral wool and its purchases as a warming agent, installation begins.

The installation scheme consists of the following steps:

Rewinding the pipe with adhesive tape with a foil surface or foil, which plays the role of a heat reflector.
Position the insulation on the surface of the pipe. The segmental casing is put on the channel, and the roll casing must be cut into segments corresponding to the section.
Inspect the treated surface and eliminate defects;
Secure the material with metallized or sanitary tape.
When the channels are in wet conditions, waterproofing should be carried out using roofing material, iron, fiberglass.

If the material contains a foil coating, which serves as an additional thermal insulation layer, then the effectiveness of warming procedures increases. But such a coating does not resist mechanical stress.

polyurethane foam

If you want to insulate with polyurethane foam, you need to lay out a lot of money. The technology when using cylinders consists of the following steps:

Spray the composition on the surface.
After solidification, check for gaps and eliminate them.
Make protection from sunlight to prevent crumbling of the composition.

Please note: in the process of hardening, polyurethane foam increases the volume by 2-3 times.

If there are blanks in the form of semi-cylinders, then put them on the pipe. Usually they are equipped with a layer that protects against UV radiation.