Exterior Pipe Insulation

[Wet_Head]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a cost effective way to insulate exterior hydronic piping? Is blue styrofoam with an aluminum jacket a good way to go to prevent hail and other damage from ruining the insulating properties of the installation over time, or is there another less expensive method?

[redfive]

It does all depend on how much you wont to spend, but as ussual you get what you pay for. For small hydronic pipe 1-2.5 you can use just regular rubber or foam. But you will be replacing it every couple of years. For all our exposed pipe, hydronic boiler loops and chill water, we use the preformed fiberglass insulation and then add the plastic armor. We also run heat traces regardless. This install practice will last many years, but the upfront cost is alittle more. You can also use the stainless steel or aluminum. Those are your best options. Trying to make and form styrafoam board and all is more trouble then its worth in the long run. And there is an art to installing it. If we do little runs here and there we will do it, But to do a whole new cooling tower or chiller install we sub it out to an actual pipe insulation company. They do it faster and better.

Redfive

[redfive]

Went to a building one time were the plumber had used the standard foam (armor-flex is what I used to always call it?) Then put metal roofing flashing over the top of it. The kind that you get at loews or home depot. 50' roll, bend it in the center and make sort of a dog house out of it. Then zip tied it ever couple of feet or so. Kept me from banging the isulation off when I would trip over the lines, as usual, and kept the direct sun and elements off of it. So I guess you can do just about anything you wont.

Redfive

[Wet_Head]

Thanks for the advice.

[wgrr]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a cost effective way to insulate exterior hydronic piping? Is blue styrofoam with an aluminum jacket a good way to go to prevent hail and other damage from ruining the insulating properties of the installation over time, or is there another less expensive method?

A couple years ago we had a massive hail storm. It beat off all the insulation that was covered by an aluminum jacket running to the cooling towers. It also severely damaged the media in the cooling tower. Hail can be very destructive.