The issue of insulation of water pipes is particularly relevant among owners of suburban real estate. Often in holiday villages and villages to worry about the many components of a comfortable stay forced by the owners themselves.
Especially when it comes to houses / cottages with year-round living - here we cannot do without the insulation of communications. And first of all it is necessary to pick up and put a heater for water pipes - without water, which is habitually flowing from the tap, it is difficult to enjoy the pleasures of country life.
In our material we will tell why it is worthwhile to warm the plumbing and what to look for when choosing a material for thermal insulation.
The content of the article:
- Do I need to insulate plumbing?
- Methods for insulating water pipes
- Alternative insulation options
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How to choose a heater for pipes?
- Classification of types of thermal insulation
- Material selection rules
- How to lay insulation?
- Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Do I need to insulate plumbing?
Often the question of whether it is necessary to warm the water supply arises on a frosty morning, when it is too late - the water from the tap does not flow. It is in this situation that the homeowner has no doubt about the need for this event.
Indeed, the insulation of pipes need not always. It all depends on the location of the house, the climatic conditions, the tenure of tenants and the characteristics of the construction of water utilities.
When it is decided to deepen the water pipes to the level of freezing, then you do not need to save on an additional depth of 0.5 meters. Otherwise, you should take care of thermal insulation.
If family members come to rest only during the warm season, there is no need for warming. To prevent accidental rupture of pipes due to frozen water in cold weather, when there is no one at the dacha, you just need to properly preserve the system, properly preparing it for the winter.
Warming is not required and the water supply system, stretched at a sufficient depth. According to the norms, water pipes should be laid correctly to the following depth: 0.5 meters + depth of soil freezing in a particular region. This is an important condition that must be observed in order not to have to redo everything anew after the first winter.
If the water supply is not insulated and buried insufficiently, then there is a danger of the freezing of the entire soil layer and the formation of ice inside the pipe.
The inhabitants of the northern regions, the level of freezing is 2.5 m or more. This greatly complicates the process of deepening the pipeline to the desired level. Yes, and cost such an event would be expensive. Here we can not do without insulation.
It happens that there is no possibility to make a trench of the desired depth for laying water pipes. In such cases, warming is a must. Another point - the entrance of a water pipe into the house. This plot in the cold often enjoys increased attention from many homeowners. Therefore, you need to take care of the insulation in a timely manner by choosing the right material.
If the water in the pipe is frozen, then at best, users will be left without water, and at worst - the pipe costly repairs will be made to locate this site and eliminate Problems
Another place of the pipeline, which must be remembered - the entrance of the pipe into the well / well. It all depends on the particular water supply and the method of arrangement of this site. If it is a well and the pipe is immersed in it, then we must not forget about its insulation by choosing a material that is resistant to ultraviolet rays and precipitation.
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Water pipes laid above the ground and in the ground, but above the seasonal freezing horizon, need thermal protection. Without insulation of water mains, ice block formation is possible and the next breakthrough
The route of the autonomous water supply, laid above the level of freezing, it is better to place in a tray of hard insulation with minimal water absorption. This is expanded polystyrene, manufactured by extrusion
Porous insulation that can absorb moisture, due to which the insulation practically ceases to perform duties, it is necessary to protect the outer waterproofing shell, at least with polyethylene or roofing material
All sections of the external water supply system, laid openly, that is, above the ground, must be insulated. Moreover, when laying under canopies or in sealed boxes they do not need waterproofing
The function of the waterproof casing for openly laid water pipes will be successfully completed by a sewer PP pipe. However, it must also be isolated.
It is mandatory to perform thermal insulation of pipes of an autonomous water supply system at the entrance to the building.
In order to avoid freezing and subsequent breakthrough, it is necessary to warm all internal sections of the water supply that pass through unheated rooms.
In order to increase the efficiency of thermal insulation of pipeline sections suffering from low temperatures in winter, it is recommended to use a heating cable as an effective additions
Thermal insulation for water mains
Laying of pipes in a tray of polystyrene foam
Warming pipes at the outlet of the well
Thermal insulation of plots above ground
Gasket in the casing of the sewer pipe
Warm water pipe at the entrance to the house
Pipe laying in an unheated basement
Efficiency increase by heating cable
Methods for insulating water pipes
To frost does not damage the water pipes in a private house / cottage / cottage, you have to worry about their thermal insulation in advance.
It is important even at the stage of making communications to consider options for pipe insulation, and not only plumbing. If this is done in a timely manner, the costs will be minimal.
There are a lot of options for insulation for pipes - it is important to choose high-quality material among the mass of offers, not strongly focusing on price. The cheapest option - wasted money
Among the ways of insulating the pipeline for supplying water to a house among homeowners the most popular are:
- stretch the pipeline 0.5 m below the freezing level;
- use heating cable;
- heat insulating material;
- provide air gap;
- buy a finished factory pipe;
- apply several methods at once.
Most often, more than one method is used. So, if the pipes for water are deep, then the area responsible for the entrance to the house still needs warming. Therefore, for him choose the best option to protect the local water supply system.
The depth of the pipeline depends on the region. To find it, you can use the special reference tables, finding your region or check by experience
The heating cable is widespread due to the simplicity of installation and high-quality implementation of the functions assigned to it.
Depending on the type of installation, there are 2 types of cable:
- outer;
- interior.
The first is mounted on top of the water pipe, and the second - inside. It is securely insulated and made of safe materials. It is connected via a heat shrinkable sleeve to a conventional cable with a plug or to a machine. Read more about the heating cable for plumbing Further.
The heating cable is of different power. Most common between 10 and 20 watts.
Insulating materials on the market represented a great variety. They all differ in their properties, quality, price, complexity of installation and service life.
Which one to choose depends on the specific situation.
Among heaters, polyethylene and polyurethane foam half-cylinders - shells are particularly easy to install.
The method with the provision of the air gap is also often used. It is a water pipe, placed in a cheap smooth plastic or corrugated pipe of larger diameter.
Inside there is free space for the circulation of warm air that enters from a warmed basement or is heated in another way.
Warm air perfectly protects the water pipe from freezing. Although often it is additionally warmed with polypropylene or other material.
Another option is to buy ready-made insulated pipes of factory origin. They are sold completely ready for installation.
They are 2 pipes of different diameter, placed in each other. Between them is a layer of insulation. Often this method of insulation is called pre-insulation.
The option with finished pipes does not always meet the needs of a specific user - the diameter, type of material and cost can be a real problem for their purchase.
The use of several methods of thermal insulation of pipes is due to the fact that all methods are imperfect and it will not be possible to apply them in all cases. Terms of use in different households located in all regions of the country, radically different from each other. Therefore, it is necessary to choose an option suitable for specific requirements.
Alternative insulation options
There are alternative methods of thermal insulation, preventing the occurrence of adverse effects. They are not applicable in all cases. First, you can remove all the water from the system - no water, no problem. This method is applicable for homes that are not used in winter. It will help protect the system from damage in case of water pipes freezing.
Secondly, it is possible to ensure the constant movement of water in the pipeline by opening a little tap. It is not difficult to do with permanent residence. But the option is dangerous - suddenly you will have to leave home for a couple of days, and upon return you will expect a surprise in the form of a damaged aqueduct.
Insulation helps get rid of condensate, which has a positive effect on extending the life of metal pipes.
In addition to the slightly opened tap, it is possible to provide constant pressure in the pipeline in other ways. For example, use special pressure boosting pump water in the system or add another element - the receiver. It should be inserted into the pipe immediately near the pump. The work of the receiver will allow to maintain constant pressure, which will save the system from freezing.
How to choose a heater for pipes?
If it is not possible to hide water pipes to the desired depth in the ground or individual nodes go to the surface of the earth, then you have to choose a heater that is ideal for thermal insulation of plumbing pipes. To do this, it is necessary to choose the most optimal option suitable for specific requirements.
Classification of types of thermal insulation
The market of thermal insulation materials is replete with offers. Among them are the time-tested options and the latest offers, characterized by a higher price.
Heat-insulating paint is one of the newest tools that allow high-quality insulation of pipes, without significantly affecting their overall weight and thickness
Insulation for pipes can be divided by type of material into the following groups:
- fiber, including mineral wool, fiberglass. This is not the best option for water pipes, because it will require additional waterproofing;
- polyurethane foam, available in solid and liquid state. This is the most popular option for warming the water supply - both the shell and the liquid spraying;
- the heat-insulating paint which appeared in the market recently. It, in addition to the main function, perfectly protects metal pipes from corrosion, but is an expensive material;
- the foam used as insulation less often, it is very fragile;
- foamed polyethylene, well-proven due to excellent performance and ease of installation.
Paint is a new word in the world of liquid insulation. It contains special inclusions that provide excellent thermal insulation.
Thermo-insulating paint is a ceramic heat insulator, inclusions are visible under the microscope, ensuring its unique properties
Material selection rules
When choosing a suitable material for the thermal insulation of local water supply should focus primarily on the quality of insulation. Indeed, among the proposals you can see a lot of low-cost options that attract price. Here you need to carefully study the accompanying documentation and consider the appearance of the proposed product.
Most often it turns out that the cheapest option will not save water pipes from freezing. Therefore, no matter how limited the budget is - the quality of insulation, it is not something that is worth saving.
It is better to save on styling, refusing the services of specialists. Choosing the right insulation, all installation work can be done by hand.
In addition to the quality of the insulating material must meet the requirements for it:
- to withstand the conditions in which he is to perform his functions;
- be simple and easy to install, if you have to lay yourself;
- have a long service life and protection from rodents and other pests;
- the price should be suitable, because the prohibitively high cost is not always justified for a certain material.
Sometimes it is necessary to additionally select an option for waterproofing insulated pipes to protect the material from getting wet, thus ensuring a long service life.
Most often for home use choose polyethylene foam and polyurethane foam. These materials are not the highest cost and ease of installation. They allow you to do all the work with your own hands, having spent a minimum of strength - the fastenings are simple, and the manufacturer is offering suitable material for fastening the parts together.
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The simplest and most affordable way to insulate water pipes laid in open areas is insulating paint.
Thermal insulation dye compounds can be applied with a conventional brush or use a spray gun that significantly increases the rate of insulation work.
In addition to the heat-insulating function, insulating paints protect pipes from rusting and also increase the aesthetic component of the pipeline.
The application of heat-insulating paints is used in open areas of the external system and in unheated premises internal water lines.
Heat-insulating paint for plumbing
Spray Composition
Insulating and aesthetic function
Painted water pipes in the basement
How to lay insulation?
To think about the insulation of the local water supply is necessary at the stage of its construction. This is the right time to calculate, buy and pack everything. Moreover, if a team works on the site, then it will take over all the questions on implementation. It is important for the owner to express his wishes regarding the type of material, its prices and be sure to check that everything is done according to the wishes.
It is important to control the work of hired craftsmen, so that they do not use cheap material, posing as an expensive equivalent
If we have to deal with insulation independently, then, in comparison with the planning and calculations of the water supply system, this will prove to be a simple exercise.
Depending on how and where the pipeline passes and which areas are to be insulated, the actions for laying the insulation will depend. The most common variant is when the pipes go below the freezing depth or slightly above. In the first case, they do not need to be warmed, and in the second they select the most convenient option. Here the length of the pipeline is also important.
Most often a heating cable is laid on the water pipe. This is especially true in areas of entry into the house. In the process of cable installation, the recommendations of the manufacturer of this product are used, having the turns at the required distance.
The heating cable allows you to adjust the temperature on the pipe surface thanks to the sensor. It can be turned on and off at will.
Then over the attached cable have a layer of insulation, fixing it properly. These may be polyurethane foam shells or foamplex segments. Having sealed parts of the insulation between themselves, you need to carefully glue the joints with a special tape.
Also on our site there is an article on how to properly produce water pipe insulation in the ground. We recommend to read it.
Pipeline sections located in the basement are also insulated. To do this, take a liquid polyurethane foam. And applied to the surface of the pipe. This should be done carefully, using personal protective equipment - you need to protect hands, eyes, avoid contact with mucous membranes and respiratory organs.
Polyurethane foam with a thickness of 1.5 cm perfectly performs the functions of 5 cm of insulation, and the paint - in a couple of mm
After drying, it remains to apply a protective paint on the surface of the polyurethane foam coating. This will protect against the effects of environmental factors and extend the service life of the insulation.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
The heating cable for heating the water supply system can be installed by hand. How to do it in detail tells the video:
Should I give preference to cheap material for thermal insulation of pipes: in the video clip, a comparison of two options:
In addition to the finished blanks for insulation, you can buy sheet material. Working with him is not difficult - all the nuances are indicated in the video:
Video clip on how to warm the water supply system for the winter:
A wonderful option for pipe insulation is the use of a heating cable. About the main features tells the video:
Having studied the issue of choice of insulation and comparing the real needs of your plumbing, you can choose the best option. Moreover, many types of materials for warming completely allow you to make styling by hand.
Even a beginner will be able to deal with the intricacies of the process and follow the basic recommendations. Personalized insulation will not only save on the involvement of specialists, but also be confident in the quality of work performed.
Have questions about the article? Please set them in the block below. Or maybe you had to deal with the insulation of the water supply? Then share your experience with our readers. Tell us which of the insulation was chosen and why.
