Bestion solution for insulating a 2" hot water pipe ?
 

Hi guys !

I just moved in a shared flat in Brooklyn, and have a 2" hot water pipe running from the ceiling to the floor in my room. This wouldn't bother me, if the thing wasn't so hot that my whole room is overheated (and thanks to the absence of window, no way of cooling it...). So my only chance is insulation !

I went to HD to buy some pipe insulation. The problem is that the pipe is 2", and the biggest insulation I could find is for 1" pipes ! I don't want glass fiber, so it seems I have the choice between PE foam (the light, rigid thing) and elastomeric (the flexible thing). Do you know if there exists some of these for 2" pipes ? Where could I find them (in the Brooklyn area) ?

(I bought some elastomeric and was able to stick two of them togheter and wrap them around the pipe... It kind of works, but is far from optimal...)

Also, which one would give me the best insulation ? The goal here is to reduce as much as possible the head radiation, so that my room becomes a bit more livable ! I'm not here for long (a few months), so I'm not looking for things that last for a lifetime.

Thanks in advance for your answers !

Are you sure it is hot water. If it is a steam line you need to use fiberglass.

I'm not sure. I said it is hot water because I didn't know it could be something else... The pipe is not too hot though, ie I can touch it. What is steam used for in a residential building ?

Heat. What is heating your space? Do you have radiators?

Yes, I have radiators, but they're shut down, the pipe is heating the room for now. So you think my pipe is not water but steam ? So it's too hot for foam ?

Thats correct if it is that hot it is probly steam.

Huh... So this may be steam. Does it mean I have to use fiber glass ? What if I use foam ?

Yes fiberglass only because foam can melt:furious: and give off fumes. Steam is 212+ deg :eek:

Ok... But if I can hold the pipe in my hand, could it be steam ?

here is a link to a discription of what you want
http://www.statesupply.com/displayItem.do?sku=IF1035X

Ok thanks... I'll have a look !

Then it may not be steam or the boiler shut off and it is cooler now so you can hold it. Maby ask somone els in the building and see if they know.

Ok. Thanks a lot for your help !

Metro Supply here in NYC area has a bigger diameter type for your heat riser http://estore.websitepros.com/180534...ipe/Detail.bok

If your holding your hand on it when its at its hottest.

Its not a steam pipe.