The formation of condensate on pipes is a fairly common phenomenon. It not only leads to various operational problems, but also violates the aesthetic appearance of the bathroom. Pipes that are constantly in contact with moisture fail much faster. Therefore, it is best to immediately solve this issue at the stage of installing pipes and protect them with insulation.
Why does condensation appear on the pipes?
Among the main reasons for this phenomenon, we can distinguish:
- The presence of a high humidity source in the room
- Insufficient thermal insulation of water supply system pipes
- Insufficient ventilation of the room
- Sudden temperature changes (in the summer, condensation forms more intensively, which is why you can notice whole streams of water flowing down from the pipes)
Why do we need pipe insulation?
To prevent the formation of condensation on the pipes, to protect them from corrosion and lime deposits, pipe insulation is used. For small diameter pipes, special pipe shells are best suited. This type of insulation is put on completely dried pipes, and its edges are glued together with a special adhesive composition or fixed with mounting tape. The advantage of such insulation is a high level of protection against condensation and an aesthetic appearance.
If it is necessary to isolate large-diameter pipes , roll-sheet insulation, which can be of different thicknesses, is better suited. Such insulation can be of different thicknesses, and is also supplemented with aluminum foil and an adhesive layer for reliable fixation. To achieve reliable fixation and tightness of the insulation, clips , aluminum or rubber tapes, glue and other similar materials are used when fastening seams and joints.
Pipe insulation made of foamed polyethylene
Pipe shells made of foamed polyethylene are a closed air-porous structure that ensures the effectiveness of such insulation for heating and water pipes. This material has optimal flexibility and elasticity, is characterized by good resistance to moisture and has a low coefficient of thermal conductivity.
Such insulation can also additionally protect against noise that occurs due to pressure drops in the pipes. Also, the advantages of shells made of foamed polyethylene include:
- easy installation
- resistance to mechanical damage
- resistance to gasoline, cement, gypsum and oils
Pipe insulation made of foam rubber
Rubber pipe shells have a finely porous structure with closed cells, which causes a high efficiency of thermal insulation. The main advantages of pipe insulation made of foam rubber include:
- Higher resistance to moisture absorption and vapor permeability throughout the entire service life in comparison with shells made of other materials. Thanks to this, a better and more reliable protection of pipes from condensate is achieved for a long time
- The enviable durability of rubber sheaths for pipes guarantees a long service life of both the insulation itself and the pipes that it protects
- Good adhesive properties of the material to different types of surfaces allows you to achieve the best sealing even in hard-to-reach places and on complex surfaces with a minimum of costs
- A large selection of shapes and an optimal level of elasticity and flexibility of rubber pipe insulation allow you to quickly install shells even in hard-to-reach places and on any type of surfaces
- Rubber insulation boasts an aesthetic appearance, has no pungent odors and does not emit toxic substances when in contact with water, which indicates its complete safety for humans
- The insulation allows local repairs without the need to dismantle the entire coating, is suitable for secondary use, and also does not need any additional protection, which indicates the high efficiency of rubber shells
What kind of rubber insulation is used for pipes of different diameters?
To protect plastic, copper and steel pipes of small diameters from condensation, rubber pipe shells with an insulation layer thickness of 6-32 mm and with an internal diameter of 6-114 mm are suitable.
To protect large-diameter pipes, it is better to use sheet insulation made of foam rubber with a thickness of 6-50 mm. Such sheet insulation to protect pipes from condensation can be supplemented with an aluminum coating and an adhesive layer to simplify the installation process.
