Keep your water flowing in winter
Pipe insulation and the avoidance of a burst pipe.
Burst pipes; The misery
How can we prevent it? Trace heating is the solution! A special flat cable is run along vunerable pipes under the insulation. A thermostat triggers heating when the temperature falls below a preset threshold. The system is self regulating and requires no maintanance.
Don't wait until your pipes burst. Call today for a quote 01900 816125 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 01900 816125 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 01900 816125 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 01900 816125 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 01900 816125 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or 07710721135
Pipe insulation slows the freezing process.
Pipe insulation is a solution. Insulation will help to prevent a burst pipe but it is important to remember that it only slows the process of freezing down. Insulation slows down the loss of heat energy from the water but does not prevent it. Over a prolonged period of cold weather unless heat energy is reintroduced to the water, for example; through the periodic use of central heating where the pipes are located in the heated envelope of the building or through the flow of water through the pipes, the water will still eventually freeze.
The thicknesses recommended are generally intended to provide protection against freezing for approximately 12 hours. The calculations that arrive at these thicknesses are based on an air temperature of -6'C and a water temperature of +7'C. They allow for a 50% ice formation after 12 hours.
Pipe insulation is available in a range of materials and each of these has its own thermal conductivity there fore when purchasing that some will be marginally better insulators than others for a given thickness. When installing evacuated tube s the insulation used is dense and also able to withstand much higher temperatures than more readily available types.
For normal household applications 20mm thick pipe insulation is recommended as a minimum for 15mm copper pipe. For 22mm copper pipe, due to the larger volume of water, a smaller thickness of 15mm is recommended.
Two birds with one stone?
Bathroom installation in West Cumbria and evacuated tube installation often presents opportnities to safeguard peoples property from disruption of a burst pipe. Many homes have bathrooms in an extention either on the ground floor or the first floor. The pipes are often against out side walls, under the bath or inside a box section away from the full effects of the ambient room temperature. By insulating these pipes or applying trace heating whilst other work is done the disruption of installation is minimised and more imortantly the disruption, and potentially expensive and damaging effects of a burst pipe can be avoided.
Contact
If you would like a free, no obligation, estimate to insulate the pipe work in your home or simply some advice about how to go about it yourself, call: Peter Winfindale at Plumbing Matters on 01900 816125 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 01900 816125 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or 0771721135 or email: peter.winfindale@hotmail.co.uk
Please feel free to get in touch.
