Insulating My Pipes

Just thought I'd send a few pics of my project. My pipes were never insulated before. I was losing 10* of heat between my K6 and the oil boiler when there was no demand. I have a series hook-up with my oil boiler. I wrapped each pex al pex pipe with foil bubble wrap for pipes and slid on closed cell insulation. Put everything in a 6" non-preforated drain tile. Then I'll put 6" of 2'X8' blue foam and bury it all. This should do the trick!

Bob, I thought you had Permafrost there, so I guess the insulation will help save the BTU's and our planet!! What a guy!!!! Is the wife aware of the incredible comfort she will enjoy this winter? Once you have experienced a coal fired heating system, then nothing seems to compare. Ever hear any more about our friendly EFM dealer??? Has he disappeared into the abyss? Inquiring minds want to know..... Get a bulk price yet?

whistlenut wrote:Bob, I thought you had Permafrost there, so I guess the insulation will help save the BTU's and our planet!! What a guy!!!! Is the wife aware of the incredible comfort she will enjoy this winter? Once you have experienced a coal fired heating system, then nothing seems to compare. Ever hear any more about our friendly EFM dealer??? Has he disappeared into the abyss? Inquiring minds want to know..... Get a bulk price yet?

No permafrost here Doug! It's been in the 80's this week! I did use my K6 for almost 2 months last season. Bulk price here runs at $250 a ton. I just bought 5 tons of bagged rice (Kimmels) for $265 a ton. $30 less than last year. Blaschak is $280. I burned both last season and didn't notice any difference. The dealer I get it from let's me pick it up as I need it. It's only a couple of miles up the road and I get it 1 pallet at a time. As far as our "former" EFM dealer, I think he fell off the face of the Earth! No one has heard from him. Well, time to fire up the John Deere (my brother's) and fill in this big hole.

Be sure to post the temp difference with the insulation vs. without.

SMITTY wrote:Be sure to post the temp difference with the insulation vs. without.

Will do.

Bob, call Freddy and get a handful of thermocouples so that you can place them every 20 feet for 'up to the minute' readouts on the temps of the piping!!!
That is a terrific price on bagged coal, especially considering the distance from PA. I also have burned both of those brands with absolutely no problems. 48 here this AM, but I'm not even talking about 'the other season'. Let's have some summer first!!

Did you put 6' of foamboard all the way around your pipe or just make a box out of it and slide the pipe through?

I found out the best and most inexpensive way to insulate pipes few years ago, trouble is , I kept buying all the insulation every summer from Walmart and K-Mart the price is more than double now, take a look at how well these swimming pool noodles work, they kept the standing water in one of my vacant properties from freezing in 3 degrees weather after power outage for 5 days !

http://home.comcast.net/~georgieporgie/wsb/media/ ... te1089.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~georgieporgie/wsb/media/ ... te1090.JPG

As of now there are two or three ID sizes, one of them fits perfectly over 1/2 pipe, and the Jumbo size fits loosely over 3/4 inch pipe.

For the little amount of money you spend on these, it's worth it, I have no clue what the R value is, but hey , they work !

That stuff is similar to what I wrapped mine with Georgie although it wasn't colored. Maybe that's where I went wrong.

You seem to be lacking on stones,boulders etc. by that ditch you've got dug by the building---please come take some of mine when it comes tillin time

cabinover wrote:Did you put 6' of foamboard all the way around your pipe or just make a box out of it and slide the pipe through?

I put the foam over the drain tile. I'm now losing only *3 from the K6 to the oil boiler.

This is what I used. http://www.drillspot.com/products/105844/Insul-Tu ... Insulation It was about $.50 cheaper last year.

Yanche had mentioned that closed cell insulation was the best stuff to use.

freetown fred wrote:You seem to be lacking on stones,boulders etc. by that ditch you've got dug by the building---please come take some of mine when it comes tillin time

I have my share of big stones. I removed quite a few which is probably why you don't see them.

Alright,you're all talking about the best,least expensive way to insulate these pipes,now I gotta bring some oldness into this post--in Vt. we fed the house from a spring about 150 yds up-hill from the house--started a trench at the spring to the house--couldn't get much more then 8--10 inches down w/o dynamite---started with 1" black pipe at the spring--about 1/2 way went to 3/4 & 1/2 inch entering the house--got a couple of p/up's full of cow poop & put about 6" over the pipe--it never froze up for the 10 yrs we were there run that by your Code guy--alright,maybe not In all seriousness--you're doing an outstanding job on that

So Sterling,what does the finished product look like 7 mos. down the road

Fred, here are a few inside pics of the finished product.

pic #1- pipes going underground from the garage to the house.

pic #2- feed from the K-6 going into the return of the oil boiler.

pic #3- feed from oil boiler going back into the return of the K-6.

samw334 wrote:Looks like a great job to me.

Thanks