Pipe Insulation, foam vs cooltherm

[HawkWhiteFinger]

I've usually always used that grey foam pipe insulation to insulated heating pipes, but I've been thinking, for domestic work, is it really worth (for the customers gas bill) going for that cooltherm kingspan foil lined pipe insulation that I see on commercial jobs?

Thanks.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Honestly no just use stnd 13mm grey foam

If you really want to go the extra mile have a look at armaflex

 

[king of pipes]

On domestic stick with foam far easier to use tie wrap it on so it cant come off and gives a snug fit with no gaps .

 

[ShaunCorbs]

On domestic stick with foam far easier to use tie wrap it on so it cant come off and gives a snug fit with no gaps .

I use gaffa tape on the slit, don't like how the tie wraps squeezes it but each to there own

 

[king of pipes]

Never had a problem bud dont pullem up as tight to squash it to death looks neater in my opion and wont come un stuck when the adhesive drys out on gaffa tape but like you say we each have our own methods all the bud best kop

 

[Welder]

So long as its for stopping heat loss NOT protecting against frost, then polyethylene insulation is fine. Any more than 25mm wall and the increased cost isn't, generally, rewarded by savings. In terms of fixing, if you zip tie and squash it you lose its efficiency at that point. Actually best to use electrical tape (about three wraps) and do it just so the gap closes.

Physically, this type of insulation begins to shrink at 4 degrees centigrade (+4) so gaps open up and you lose heat. Nitrile based product (armaflex etc) does too, but that can be fitted so you can compress the lengths by 10% to compensate for this shrinkage. The grey stuff cant be compressed enough to compensate.

PLEASE. Only ever fit a nitrile product when trying to protect against frost. NOT ONE manufacturer says their grey (polyethylene) product protects against frost...

 

[king of pipes]

Have to disagree with you there bud soon as that pipework gets hot that tape is going to fail come unstuck and gaps will appear , Nitrile based products are best glued at the joint armaflex do a contact type adhesive especially for this i use it on ground source , air source pipework where you need 100 per cent coverage and protection but each to their own regards kop.

 

[Welder]

Glad to say we're actually in violent agreement King!

I only ever put about tape as 99% of installers want something easy and cheap. At the number of wraps I talked about it genuinely works. However, you sir are doing it as I would do it and by far and away the best way. For me, doing it the way manus suggest is the only way and delivers by far the best nights sleep By the way, I even stay away from the preglued. Ive found in the past that when subjected to high ambient temps that too lets go all too often for my liking. Thank you for pointing it out