How to install pipe insulation?

How to install pipe insulation?

With the increasing costs and value of energy, affording to waste any amount of it is not feasible. Why produce energy which is not used? The best way to save it is by insulating it. With insulation there will be little to no loss of heat as pipes carrying the energy are the major culprits of leakage. Here are some steps you will need to follow to have the perfect pipe covering in your building:

Understanding the aim

The main aim of pipe insulation is to reduce the heat loss that occurs between the boiler and the convector or radiator. Pipes that run through the walls of the building are difficult to insulate as they are very hard to reach and so there are methods to fill all the gaps present in the walls so that no heat loss happens, of course insulating your pipes should be done during construction or the fitting process of the piping.

Knowing the colour codes

The insulation for pipes are either grey or blue. The grey pipes have an R-value of 0.030 while the blue pipe has as R-value of 0.035. Higher R-value means better insulation values. The material with the higher value will reduce the passage of heat thus making the insulation more effective.

Choosing the best material

A huge range of materials are available in the market for the same purpose. Deciding which material to choose can be a bit overwhelming at times. Fiberglass pipe insulation or K-Flex is a recommended material as it has a greater R-value and is also easy to apply due to its flexibility. It doesn’t shrink and has a flame retardant material. Another leading brand which sells thermal and acoustic insulation material is K-flex

Cutting and Starting

You first need to cut the tube as per the requirement of the pipe to be insulated. You will need a mitre box, knife, adhesive or insulating tapes. Use the mitre box to cut at 30º or 45º and thereby seal the tube with the help of the tape.

Bends, t-pieces and branches are the first places you start with. For T-pieces you will need to cut-out a 90º wedge-shaped tube and a main extension in the middle of the tube. The tube to be joined in the middle, a 45º cut is to be made.

Curved bends

In case of a 90º curved bend, place the tube in the mitre box and cut two notches at an angle of 30º each up to the full depth and cover the cuts by insulating tape.

Quick tip

After the installation of the material make sure all the joints are sealed using the insulation tape to prevent heat loss of any kind due to leakage in the joints.

These tricks will make installing pipe insulation at your building easy and manageable.

You can get the pipe insulation materials as per your demands and requirements at the site www.insulation4us.com. Also, orders above $600 will get nationwide free delivery.