Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => Plumbing => Topic started by: banjoman on April 04, 2012, 06:19:28 PM

Title: Pex insulation wrap
Post by: banjoman on April 04, 2012, 06:19:28 PM

I plan to wrap my pex lines myself and put inside 6" pvc. I was wondering if anyone has used this product.

http://www.insulation4less.com/Insulation4lessTechnicalArticles-79-Double-Bubble-Insulation.aspx (http://www.insulation4less.com/Insulation4lessTechnicalArticles-79-Double-Bubble-Insulation.aspx)

Their Prodex Total is 15/32 thick and claims R 15.67 insulation value.

Thanks

Title: Re: Pex insulation wrap
Post by: willieG on April 04, 2012, 06:57:45 PM

my opinion is bubbles is troubles!

if water gets inside your  outer pipe it will get to the pex lines and your bubbles will do nothing and (again my belief) they do  little anyway

my brother in law put the double bubble under his cement slab for his radiant heat in his basement and will not use it now because  of the extra wood he burns. I put 2 inch closed cell foam under mine on 8 inches of stone and i never noticed an increase in wood usage

i am sure there will be folks that tell you it is fine and that will be their opinion and you will have to weigh each one of them and make your choice  good luck

Title: Re: Pex insulation wrap
Post by: banjoman on April 05, 2012, 05:06:19 PM

Thanks for your input. Since you mentioned foam, I wondered how closed cell foam in rolls would be to wrap pex lines. I'm thinking maybe 1/4" thick.

Also how can water enter a closed pvc pipe? Does the heated pex pipes cause a condensation build up over time?

Title: Re: Pex insulation wrap
Post by: RSI on April 05, 2012, 10:38:51 PM

The R value they advertise is with a hollow sealed 2x4 wall cavity. It is probably around R 1 or so when wrapped around pipe.
The prodex appears to be foam. The link was saying not to get the double bubble.

Title: Re: Pex insulation wrap
Post by: hellonwheels on April 23, 2012, 08:04:11 PM

 Do not skimp if you are running underground pipe any length...