The problem of freezing of the water pipe with the relevant first frost until the spring.
The first to suffer aqueducts that prokinut above the ground and is not sufficiently insulated. This article look at how to securely insulate the water pipe above the ground, which it will require materials and tools.
A little about plumbing
In a particular construction for the supply of water from wells often use open system plumbing. It is easier, faster and easier to assemble, requires no special equipment, such as excavators, etc. In such a system there is one a big minus, it is extremely sensitive to temperature, so to maintain the health requires reliable insulation. In some cases, especially when at warming was flawed, freezing does occur, it can bring to the rupture of the pipeline.
Minimize the risk of rupture during freezing is possible, it is necessary to select the material of the pipe is made. Most susceptible to tearing metal and plastic pipes, it is not recommended to use them. Plastic pipe variants can expand slightly under the pressure of the ice, so they break the freezing happens very rarely.
The choice of material
Questions than to insulate metal or plastic water pipe in the street, what materials are cheaper and which has a free version, this is what primarily interested in those who are self-built or serving your house. When selecting a heater it is important to understand that the use of highly specialized materials more convenient, but they are a little more expensive. First of all, consider free versions of heaters.
Free insulation for outdoor plumbing
One of the cheapest and sawdust are many absolutely free insulation. Their use allows to minimize the costs of insulation, but slightly complicates the process because to isolate water supply from the cold by using sawdust to produce require an additional box in which they are bombarded.
As a free water pipe insulation can use manure. In the process of digestion of manure, a large amount of heat. He is able not only to protect the water from the cold, but also a little to warm him. As in the embodiment with sawdust, manure require additional ducts.
In some cases, as a heater used slag. It is porous, contains large amounts of air and good protection pipe from freezing. In private homes, which have individual heating boilers, slag is available in large quantities, so Using it you can not only minimize the cost of insulation, but also save money, since slag removal requires certain costs.
The warm water pipe in the street
In the construction market represented a large number of advanced materials that can be used for thermal insulation of the pipeline, and there is also intended for these purposes. Consider a popular insulating material for pipes.
Mineral wool
One of the cheapest, but not the most practical heater, which can be used, including for water - mineral wool. The material is porous and reliably isolates the pipeline from the cold.
The disadvantage of this insulation its high hygroscopicity, it strongly absorbs moisture, whereby the thermal insulation performance is gradually reduced.
During operation of the pipeline, especially in case of insufficient ventilation, on its surface continuously collects condensate which is successfully absorbed by the mineral wool. It is for this reason, its use is not the best option.
Forms of mineral wool some issue. For pipes used in almost everything, but it is more convenient to use one that is made in the form of shell for water.
Styrofoam for pipes
The following material, which has been successfully used to protect pipes from freezing - polystyrene. It has a porous structure, which contains a large amount of air, it is for this reason that it has a low coefficient of thermal conductivity.
Expanded polystyrene poorly absorbs moisture, so it can be used in areas where there is direct contact with water.
Manufacturers produce polystyrene tubes in the shell to form, which fits over the pipe and is fixed by a special lock or tape. Use this heater is convenient for piping with a minimum number of turns. The fact that the polystyrene shells for pipes virtually no flex. For this reason, insulation of the corner joints, valves, and other design elements are applied Additional details of polypropylene, which are installed end to end with the main heater and sealed duct tape.
Polystyrene foil pipe
Material made of conventional expanded polystyrene shell for pipes, further wrapped in foil covering.
The foil reflects the heat radiation is good and does not allow to penetrate into the material cold. Warming the open pipe in a private house or in the country in using this material is more preferably because polystyrene foil reliably isolates the pipeline from the cold.
polyethylene foam
Another material that has been used successfully for thermal insulation of pipelines, including the public, it is polyethylene foam.
It is produced in the form of tubes of different diameters and different wall thicknesses. For ease of installation, some types of tubular polyethylene foam have a longitudinal section, if this section is not present, if necessary, it is easy to do using conventional stationery knife.
Foamed polyethylene is substantially not rot and is capable when properly installed conduit additionally protect from moisture because It does not absorb water. Mount the insulation of foamed polyethylene as possible in the course of the pipeline assembly, and after commissioning. For the installation does not require special equipment or tools, it is enough to have a tape measure and stationery knife.
Tip! For reliable water pipe insulation can wrap it in several layers of insulation of foamed polyethylene of different diameters.
As the former material, polyethylene foam may be produced with an additional coating a foil or metallized film. Insulation foiled coating protects against cold, but requires mandatory bonding seam by means of metallized tape. If you compare the price, the foil heater a little more expensive than usual.
Spray foam
Such insulation can reliably protect the pipeline from the cold. Less method is its high cost, because It is required to pay not only the material, but also the work of the installers. Own cause deposition on the pipeline, will not work. This requires special equipment and skills to use it. It should be borne in mind that the foam is afraid of direct sunlight, so insulated by this method outside water must also be wrapped in a material which does not transmit light. Recommended roofing material, the foil or other material with similar characteristics.
Electric current cable
One of the pipeline options for protection from freezing is to use a special heating cable. Option expensive because the cable itself is not cheap, also need to purchase a voltage regulator. Although the current consumption is not large, but over a long period of operation, the system is able to "wound" on a decent amount.
To install such a system does not require certain skills, enough to reel in the cable line and plug it in. The system can be combined with classic insulation for it after winding wire wraps in the conduit insulation. Such a method reduces the cost of heating tubes and the heating cable used rarely or only in emergency cases, such as when the temperature drops below -20 peremerzaet or conduit.
As insulate a cold water pipe
Consider how you can own hands to warm the cold water supply pipe. The work begins with the selection of measurements and a heater. Measure the length of the pipe and its diameter. If you plan to use rolled insulation, such as mineral wool, measure the diameter of the pipeline is not necessary, since it does not matter. In the case of a tubular heater length and diameter of the pipe are important.
In order to properly insulate the pipe, it is necessary to follow a few recommendations craftsmen and manufacturers of thermal insulation materials:
- There must be non-insulated areas.
- Throughout pipe insulation should be securely fixed.
- Joints with insulation coated necessary prokleivat foiled metal tape.
- If the system has valves, they must be fully closed by heat insulating material.
Cut the insulation convenient ordinary knife for paper. Suitable for fixing an adhesive tape or plastic ties. Some manufacturers complete with a heater supply fastening, designed for fixing it, usually a plastic clip. installation clip attaching step should not exceed 15 cm.
If a frame (box) is required to produce reliable insulation, it can be made out of boards. Wood construction is tough and does not require any additional protection against mechanical damage. It is also possible to produce foam of the box, it is less durable, but additionally protects the pipe from freezing. For fastening together sheets of foam which is used assembly foam, further relieve it from the cold penetration structure, since It fills the gap between the frame elements.
Do I need to insulate the drain pipe
Owners of private houses often asked questions about the weatherization of sewer pipes. So whether it is necessary, as advised manufacturers of thermal insulation materials? The fact that correctly mounted sewer system having a normal angle and the diameter of the drain pipes, and can function in winter without additional insulation. But who can guarantee that your system is perfectly designed and assembled, so it is better to err and to arrange extra protection thermal insulation materials.
How to insulate pipes in a private house
The sewer system is insulated on the same principle as a conventional plumbing. All insulation works performed on stage drain sewerage assembly because in most cases the system is closed and is in the earth.
The materials can be used as insulation roll or special thermal insulation for large diameter pipelines. Preferred materials with the foil coating, as they are able to protect the pipe from direct contact with moisture, which has a positive impact on the timing of discharge operation. This is particularly true for metal drain structures, as they are more sensitive to the effects of aggressive substances.
At the end of the article, we note that the warm water pipes located outside or in unheated rooms can be on their own, in no big deal. The main thing is to comply with the recommendations and use the right material.
