How to Reduce Boiler Heat Loss

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Boiler systems can be complicated, and homeowners are generally smart to avoid tinkering with the boiler, its electrical components, or the pressurized pipes connected to it. However, there are some simple upgrades you can make that can make your boiler a little more efficient. This article particularly focuses on how you can insulate your heating pipes to reduce heat loss.

How Boilers Work

A boiler, to put it basically, works by converting fuel into hot water. This hot water is then circulated by a heat pump throughout the pressurized pipes that run through the walls and eventually recirculate at the radiators that are mounted to the wall at various points. As the hot water travels through the pipes it loses some of its heat as it is transferred into the rooms and through the walls. By the time it reaches the radiator and is recirculated, it is cooled down even more. So, as it travels back to the boiler, the water is significantly cooler, so the boiler needs to fire up again and heat the water. This is where the most electricity is used.

So, the efficiency of a boiler largely depends on how freely and quickly this heated water can flow throughout your pipes without losing heat. If you can retain some of this heat, the boiler won't need to work as hard, saving electricity and fuel.

Adding Insulation to Your Pipes

By simply wrapping these water pipes in foam insulation, you can significantly reduce the amount of heat loss. The best product for this job is foam insulation tubes. These tubes are circular and come in different gauges (widths). As long as you have the right gauge, will be able to easily fit the tube around the pipe with very little effort. The best insulation tubes are those that have adhesive on the edges. You basically pull the sticker away to expose adhesive to close the tube around the pipe.

Obviously, not all of your water pipes are gonna be outside of the walls, so you won't be able to add insulation to all of them. But, it is obviously the pipes that are outside of your walls that are going to be the most vulnerable to immediate heat loss because of the outside temperatures.

So, it is smart to insulate every inch of water pipe that you can actually reach. This is the best way to increase the overall efficiency of your system in the long run. To learn more, contact a local company that offers residential heating services.

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