Is condensate drain pipe insulated?
It is to be noted that condensate drain pipe is already insulated but when it discharges the condensate drain water from condensate drain pipe to the floor drain and thereafter into horizontal drainage / waste pipe, our client is expecting some condensation on floor drain and also on the horizontal waste pipe which is connected to the floor drain.
Can you add insulation to condensate pipe?
If condensate starts out with 53.6°F, that pipe outside temperature could be close to 60°F. But again, the owner gave you directions to apply insulation. Unless you can prove adding insulation creates a danger or code violation, you should do what the owner wants.
How much insulation do you need for condensate drains?
Many will point to where the ICC energy efficiency code states: Mechanical system piping insulation. Mechanical system piping capable of carrying fluids above 105°F (40°C), or below 55°F (13°C) shall be insulated to a minimum of R-2. But that excerpt really isn't talking about condensate drains when read in context.
Is pipe insulation required on service hot water and HVAC piping?
All current building energy codes and standards require pipe insulation on service hot water and HVAC piping. Requirements vary, but none of the model codes differentiate pipe insulation requirements based on pipe material.
Why does water dripping from the return ducts?
What is RH in ducts?
What is runout piping?
What is the minimum temperature of piping?
What is the Home Reference Book?
Do you need insulation for condensate drains?
What is an illustrated home?
See 2 more
Does condensate pipe need insulation?
If you don't insulate steam condensate return line pipes, the piping will be cold and when the extremely hot condensate hits the cold piping you will hear those loud bangs.
How do you insulate a condensate pipe?
0:405:25How to prevent your boiler's condensate pipe from freezingYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can use the simplest of which is to insulate the condensate pipe with a waterproof. AndMoreYou can use the simplest of which is to insulate the condensate pipe with a waterproof. And weatherproof insulation around the outside of the pipe. This is available from DIY outlets.
What is the purpose of using insulation on condensate lines?
In refrigeration and air-conditioning applications, insulation needs to be able to protect against condensation. Moisture control is critical to thermal efficiency. If moisture intrudes the insulating material surrounding cold-water piping, thermal efficiency is lost.
How do you keep a condensate pipe from freezing?
Can you prevent HVAC condensate drain lines from freezing?Insulate drain with a weatherproof material.Use Ice Melt underneath the drain line exit point.Install heat tape around the exposed pipe.
What happens if AC pipe is not insulated?
The A/C Suction Line and Insulation The suction line must be well insulated to protect against condensation and keep the line cold. Otherwise, the cooling process becomes interrupted.
Why is my condensate drain line sweating?
Sweating plumbing in these areas usually means that there isn't enough airflow to move humidity and hot air out. Installing more fans and vents can prove a very effective solution.
Does mini split condensate line need to be insulated?
Mini splits drain do need insulation. Condensate water produced by mini splits is cold. Thus, the drain pipe must be insulated to prevent condensation. However, if the drain pipe is concealed, the wall or floor acts as insulation.
Can you use a pool noodle as pipe insulation?
The trick is very simple, you can definitely use a pool noodle as insulation or for insulation. The instructions are also quite compact and simplified. You just need a pool noodle, knife, and some filler material or cardboard to wrap around the pipe.
Should I insulate steam pipes in basement?
You should because if you don't, you're going to wind up with an undersized boiler. And with an undersized boiler, the rooms in your home will heat unevenly. Some will never get warm enough.
Can you run a condensate pipe outside?
It is possible to terminate a condensate pipe into a rain water down pipe that terminates into the foul waste system. As with all externally-run condensate pipes, it is recommended to keep the external run to minimum and the pipe diameter to 32mm when exiting the property.
How should a condensate pipe be installed?
Where should a boiler condensate pipe go? The HHIC states that: 'When fitting a new or replacement boiler, the condensate discharge pipe should be connected to an internal 'gravity discharge point', such as an internal soil stack, internal kitchen or bathroom waste pipe such as sink, basin, bath or shower waste.
Can boiler condensate freeze?
Frozen Condensate If your boiler has stopped working in freezing temperatures, then there is a good chance that your condensate pipe has frozen. Luckily, this isn't a big problem and it can be easily resolved yourself without the need for an engineer.
Does mini split condensate line need to be insulated?
Mini splits drain do need insulation. Condensate water produced by mini splits is cold. Thus, the drain pipe must be insulated to prevent condensation. However, if the drain pipe is concealed, the wall or floor acts as insulation.
Can you drain AC condensate into sewer?
Different municipalities may require condensate be disposed of to the sanitary sewer, while others may require disposal to building exterior or storm drainage piping. Some AHJ may even require the use of additional equipment to neutralize certain elements/compounds prior to disposing of the condensate.
Where do I run my AC condensate drain line?
The final place to drain your condensate line is the drain line access point. The access point is most often located inside the home near the indoor air conditioner unit. This access point will also be covered with a PVC cap. Pour hot water or vinegar into the access point to flush the drain line from the inside.
How do you unclog an AC condensate drain line connected to a bathroom sink?
If your drain line ever does become clogged, you can try cutting it open and clearing it with a wet/shop vac, or blowing it out with compressed air, nitrogen, or with a pump. If your able to get the line cleared and properly draining again, just remember to keep the drains treated more often.
Requirement of Insulation on Drainage piping Due to Condensate Drain
Insulation isn't needed if you can count on the given values: Dew point temperature = 52.25 F Condensate drain temperature is 53.6 F But, as cautioned by EnergyProfessional, the dew point temperature in the ceiling void is not controlled and might climb above the condensate drain temperature.
Condensate Drain Pan Insulation - HVAC/R engineering - Eng-Tips
I've got a 30 year old built up air handler with chilled water coils that need replacing. The AHU is large, 126,000 cfm. The chilled water coil is actually two
Why does my heating system make a hammering noise?
This loud banging noise can be a result of many factors, one of which is lack of proper fiberglass pipe insulation . If you return lines are not insulated, the piping will be cold and when the extremely hot condensate hits the cold piping you will hear those loud bangs.
How does insulating a boiler improve efficiency?
1. Increase Efficiency: Insulating the condensate or hot water return lines reduces heat loss from the water returning to the boiler. The hotter the water returning to the boiler is, the quicker it is to convert back to steam, which takes less energy to accomplish.
Can a water line freeze?
3. Freeze Protection: Most homeowners recognize that a water line located in a crawlspace can potentially freeze. What most fail to realize is that heat return pipes are full of water as well! If you go away for a long weekend and turn the heat down too low, those return lines can freeze!
Why does 21.5 condense freeze faster?
to add, a trap that drips out condense rather than by syphonic action, with 21.5 condense outside with a wind chill will freeze faster, because the pipe is continuously wet. the reason for 32mm pipe is not that it wont eventually freeze, but slows down the chance of a total wall of ice, before milder weather arrives, but if you got a syphonic trap, 32mm pipe lagged, and heated condensate, your going to survive.
What are the advantages of a syphonic heated trap?
lagging, increasing pipe size, a syphonic heated trap, are all advantage against freezing, but the condensure is the biggest plus.
How much does a 22mm condensate pipe drop?
Over a 4m run, the 22mm condensate pipe drops about 300mm, then drops vertically to a drain for the last 1.2m.
How many mm should a Worcester condenser be?
get a worcester condensure fitted , if you got room below boiler, and it should be 32 mm external pipe , what lagging does is protect the pipe from wind chill, its normally the wind chill coupled whith the - 5 and below spikes of cold, that freezes most condense pipes.
How to thaw out a frozen drain?
Using a pre-installed pipe within a pipe can be effective in thawing out a frozen drain / overflow pipe. The inside of the inner pipe must be kept dry before use and then dried after use if hot water is used. Warn air ( from a hair drier or warm air gun ) from either end is slower to thaw the pipe than hot water but more convenient. Beware water from melting ice getting onto the electrics
What is wind chill?
Wind Chill related to how cold a person feels and does not apply to the cooling of a dry object.
What temperature does a dry object get?
A dry object will be cooled to 0°C and no colder irrespective of the wind speed.
What is the outside temperature of PVC pipe?
So a smart engineer could calculate the pipe outside surface temperature at the location in question. If condensate starts out with 53.6°F, that pipe outside temperature could be close to 60°F. But again, the owner gave you directions to apply insulation.
Is the dew point temperature in a ceiling void controlled?
But, as cautioned by EnergyProfessional, the dew point temperature in the ceiling void is not controlled and might climb above the condensate drain temperature.
Is condensate a problem in cold climates?
Condensation is a big problem in cold climate location. I remember the exhaust vent of an air hot furnace protruding from the wall of a storage room dripping condensate during cold weather. Extreme cold weather eventually froze the condensate totally blocking the vent line and the hot air furnace stopped working. The storage room got pretty cold but luckily none of the content got "frost bite". So we put insulation around the pipe and problem solved. Just make sure the insulation is rated for hot temperatures and is weather resistant.
Does moisture condense in a ceiling?
Moisture would condense from air in the ceiling void, drip on the ceiling, and damage the ceiling. This statement implies some level of distrust in the dew point remaining lower than the condensate temperature: "It is to be noted that condensate drain pipe is already insulated.".
Do you need to insulate a drain?
As it stands then it appears yes, you need to insulate the drain to stop drips of water from appearing and dripping onto the ceiling or the room occupants. Hotel guests don't like drips landing on them.
Will Eng tips check this out?
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.
Does it matter what engineers think about the conditions of the air in the plenum?
the conditions of the air in the plenum could be different from infiltration etc.#N#in the end it doesn't matter what engineers think. the client insists, and pays for it. so make them happy and you are on the safe side.
What is IMC 307.2.5?
IMC 307.2.5 states that the condensate assembly must be installed so that the drain line can be “cleared of blockages and maintained” without cutting the drain. Traps & Vents. The IMC states that condensate drains should be trapped according to manufacturers' specs.
Why vent after a trap?
Venting after the trap (like shown on the EZ Trap above) is an excellent idea in most applications because it helps prevent airlock that can occur due to double traps and shared drains. It also prevents siphoning. This vent is AFTER the trap and must remain open to be effective. The vent opening should always rise above the trip level of the condensate overflow switch when it is in the primary drain line or pan or above the secondary/aux overflow port on the primary drain pan. That helps ensure that that the water properly trips the switch instead of overflowing out of the vent if a backup occurs. While venting is a common best practice, it isn't part of the IMC code.
How many tons of condensate can be in 3/4 inch drain?
According to the IMC, 3/4″ is sufficient for up to 20 tons unless the drain outlet size is larger than 3/4″.
What is the IMC code?
The IMC (International Mechanical Code) is one of the most widely utilized and referenced. The 2015 version of the IMC section 307 is what I will be referring to in this article. The code as it relates to condensate disposal in the IMC is pretty vague.
Why do we insulate drains in Florida?
In Florida, we always insulate horizontal portions of the drain because we would have consistent growth and water damage issues due to the high dew points if we didn't.
How much fall per foot for a drain?
The IMC dictates a 1% minimum pitch of the drain, equal to 1/8″ fall for every 12″ (foot) of horizontal run. In practice, it is safer to use 1/4″ of fall per foot to ensure proper drainage and provide some wiggle room for error.
Is a venting switch part of the IMC code?
While venting is a common best practice, it isn't part of the IMC code. The IMC code doesn't directly state that the drain line must be insulated.
What is the best material for hot water piping?
Since all plastics lose strength as temperature increases, the use of plastic piping is limited to operating temperatures less than 220°F. For domestic hot and cold water piping systems, CPVC and PEX are the most common materials. For chilled water distribution piping, many different materials may be used.
What is the size of a CPVC pipe?
CPVC is available in either nominal pipe sizes (NPS) from ¼” to 12″ or in copper tube sizes (CTS) from ¼” to 2″ . NPS sizes are available in either Schedule 40 or Schedule 80 wall thicknesses. CTS sizes for wall thickness have a standard dimension ratio (SDR) of 11 (i.e., the outside diameter is 11 times the wall thickness).3
How much insulation is needed for a C404.5?
C404.5 Pipe insulation. For automatic-circulating hot water and heat-traced systems, piping shall be insulated with not less than 1 inch (25 mm) of insulation having a
What is the temperature of HHW?
The line operates at a temperature of 180°F and runs through a return-air plenum with an air temperature of 75°F and an air velocity of 3 mph. For this example, we will use fiberglass insulation (ASTM C 547 Type I). The 2012 IECC insulation requirement for this application is 1 ½.” Results of the calculations are shown in Table 4.
What is plastic piping used for?
Plastic piping for domestic hot and cold service water systems, and for HVAC systems in buildings , has been in use for many years and has become the dominant piping material for residential construction. One source1 estimates that plastic pipe systems are currently used in 75% of the potable piping systems in new residential construction, and this number is predicted to rise to 80% by 2015. Plastic piping is also used routinely in commercial and industrial applications.
Why do water lines sweat?
For example, city water lines entering a building will often sweat due to the relatively cold temperature of the water entering the building. Depending on the ambient conditions, plastic piping may minimize or eliminate the surface condensation and associated dripping from cold water pipes. However, when insulation is required by energy codes, ...
What is the difference between plastic and metallic piping?
Compared to metallic piping systems, plastic piping materials have a significantly lower thermal conductivity, which translates to lower heat transfer between the fluid and the ambient air. For some piping applications, this can be advantageous.
Why does water dripping from the return ducts?
Depending on the actual RH and temperatures involved (and some other factors), that combination may result in sufficient water condensing on the outside of the condensate drain line in that space to cause dripping, wetting, inside the return ducts.
What is RH in ducts?
The RH or temperature and humidity in the ducts or other areas through which the condensate drain has been routed. The material around the condensate drain and the probability that that material could, if wet, become any of the problems I've cited. See details.
What is runout piping?
4. Piping that conveys fluids that have not been heated or cooled through the use of fossil fuels or electric power. 5. Runout piping not exceeding 4 feet (1219 mm) in length and 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter between the control valve and HVAC coil.
What is the minimum temperature of piping?
Mechanical system piping capable of carrying fluids above 105°F (40°C) or below 55°F (13°C) shall be insulated to a minimum of R-3.
What is the Home Reference Book?
The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
Do you need insulation for condensate drains?
No. Building & mechanical codes do not require insulation on A/C condensate drains, based on a reading of the current U.S. Energy Code that I will excerpt here. You'll see that in Texas there is not much chance that the condensate drain is going to be running at the operating temperature ranges ( 105°F (40°C) or below 55°F ) cited here.
What is an illustrated home?
The ILLUSTRATED HOME illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
