Getting rid of condensation on cold water pipes. Condensation on pipes, remove excess moisture Thermal insulation for pipes in the bathroom

Why does condensation appear on cold water pipes, what to do in this case? Condensation is a common problem, and it can appear on both metal and plastic pipelines. At first glance, the problem is insignificant, but over time it causes a lot of trouble in the form of rust, mold and an unpleasant odor. That is, you still need to get rid of condensation. To do this, you need to find out the reasons for its appearance. Why do pipes sweat?

Why does condensation appear on cold water pipes?

Most often you can see condensation on the pipes in the toilet. One of the reasons is a water leak in the tank. The water is constantly changing and does not have time to warm up, hence the humidity. We get rid of the leak in the tank - this reason will disappear.

Sometimes puddles appear near the riser due to excessive humidity. This means that the neighbors living above have a leak in the tank. At night, listen to the gurgling of water in the sewer, and you will immediately understand everything.

Condensation also forms due to increased humidity and temperature changes. To avoid condensation, good ventilation is necessary. To start, simply leave the toilet door open overnight; you may find a dry pipe in the morning.

The reason is obvious - the ventilation pipeline is clogged. Unscrew the grille on the ventilation duct and clean everything very well. A draft should appear in the ventilation duct.

If there is ventilation, but it does not cope with the problem, you can install an exhaust fan. It attaches in place of the vent and you turn it on as needed.

The choice of fans in modern construction supermarkets is huge, for every taste and at any price. Recently, the installation of such fans in toilets and bathrooms has become very common.

How to fix the condensation problem

How to get rid of condensation on pipes in the bathroom? The pipes in the bathroom also sweat. The reason may be similar. Condensation on the riser means problems with the neighbors' plumbing. The pipeline supplying water to your plumbing becomes wet; the faucet is not working properly. The absence of a hood, as in the first case, aggravates the problem.
If hot and cold water systems are very close to each other, fogging cannot be avoided.

It is necessary to insulate the pipes; this is an excellent protection that will remove condensation.

Often condensation forms on the pipes in the bathroom due to a faulty faucet. Leakage of water helps to cool them. There is only one way out - faucet repair!

How to get rid of condensation? Pipe insulation will completely eliminate fogging of pipes. It is necessary to isolate cold water pipes from interaction with the external environment. There are special thermal insulation materials that can be used to rid pipes of condensation. You just need to buy such material and insulate the pipelines. The abundance of such materials in the construction materials market is very large.

If you prefer a budget option to eliminate moisture on pipes and do not plan to purchase expensive thermal insulation material, you can use other ways. It is necessary to purchase a container of polyurethane foam and a plastic pipe or corrugation, the diameter of which exceeds the diameter of the pipe with condensate. The corrugation or pipe is cut into pieces so that they can be put on the problem pipe, then they are put on and the voids are filled with foam.

There is another budget option for getting rid of condensation. You will need sandpaper to remove rust and acetone to thoroughly degrease the problem surface afterwards. It is best to treat the pipeline with phosphoric acid and then apply a layer of epoxy putty on it so that it does not drain.

Then immediately wrap the pipeline with previously prepared strips of fabric so that the material is saturated with putty. You can use an old sheet by cutting it into bandage-like pieces. The putty and fabric will harden quickly.

You can do this several times in the same way. The work ends with the application of finishing putty. It will look aesthetically pleasing if the putty is sanded and covered with water-based paint of the color you need.

In most cases, insulating pipes can solve the problem of condensation, but sometimes the level of humidity in a house or apartment is so high that waterproofing the floors and walls is necessary.

Condensation in the chimney pipe is formed from water vapor contained in the air and fuel. This moisture combines with other combustion products, forming concentrated solutions of acids, alkalis and other aggressive chemical elements that destroy chimneys. Therefore, all manufacturers of heating devices insist on the mandatory removal of condensate from the exhaust channel of combustion products.

Where does condensate come from in the chimney pipe?

You saw condensation in the chimney - what to do, this happens to everyone. You could even say that there is simply no chimney without condensation.

The process of condensation formation is influenced by the following factors:

• Fuel moisture level. Moreover, absolutely dry fuel simply does not exist. Even natural gas contains a portion of water vapor; moreover, when burned, this fuel decomposes into carbon dioxide and water vapor. Therefore, condensation in the chimney of a gas boiler is quite common.
• The temperature of the flue gases and the chimney itself - if it is less than 100 degrees Celsius, then the source of water vapor will be the air itself in the chimney channel. At the same time, at the start, any heating device generates exhaust gases with an insufficiently high temperature, which pass through an insufficiently heated pipe.
• Weak draft in the chimney channel - if the speed of movement of exhaust gases through the air ducts is insufficient, the risk of vapors passing into water increases. At high speed (thrust), the vapors simply fly out of the pipe without having time to condense and transform into liquid.

• There is a large difference in the temperature of the pipe and the environment - in this case, water vapor condenses on the outer surface of the chimney, as well as in its end part. This effect intensifies with each seasonal cooling.

Condensation - options for eliminating the problem

As you can see: it is in principle impossible to eliminate the effect of condensation formation in the flue gas exhaust channel. We can only reduce the concentration of this substance or increase the pipe's resistance to the chemical activity of condensate.

In this case, to reduce the concentration of condensate, we can use the following techniques:

• Use fuel with a minimum degree of humidity - dried firewood, pallets, coal, diesel fuel, etc. However, this method will not work with gas boilers - water vapor is formed during the combustion of such fuel, being part of the exhaust.
• Insulate the chimney pipe by moving the dew point into the body of the channel. This technique eliminates the problem of temperature differences - the air duct does not come into contact with the cold external environment and does not have time to cool down after warming up.

• Periodically clean the chimney channel, eliminating all blockages in the path of flue gases. The cleaner the channel, the better the traction. And with good draft, water vapor simply does not linger in the pipe, flying out with the flue gases.
• Install a deflector at the end of the pipe - a special nozzle that enhances draft in the air duct and protects the end from atmospheric moisture flowing into the chimney during rain or snowfall.

In addition, we can simply install a condensate drain for the chimney in the problem area, releasing thickened water vapor from the channel before it combines with combustion products, turning into a caustic liquid.

However, these methods only reduce the severity of the problem without solving it. Condensation will remain in the pipe in any case. Insulation of the channel, a nozzle on the head and dry firewood only reduce the concentration of chemically active substances, extending the life of the chimney.

Preventive measures

To increase the resistance of the chimney body to the aggressive effects of condensate, we will have to take the following steps:

• Install a duct made of chemical-resistant material into the air duct. Typically, asbestos-cement pipes or brick chimneys are lined with stainless steel inserts - high-alloy steel that is resistant to the aggressive effects of chemically active substances.
• Install a condensate collector for the chimney - a steel cup located below the interface unit - at the intersection of the horizontal channel (from the firebox) and the vertical section (towards the street).

As a result, we will not stop the process of condensation formation, but we will protect the main structural material of the chimney from aggressive substances that destroy the integrity of the channel. The condensate flows through the pipes into a collection tank, which is emptied as needed. Therefore, this technique is one of the most effective means of combating condensation - it eliminates the consequences without affecting the very process of formation of chemically active substances.

Of course, the initial assembly of the chimney using condensate, as a source of threat to the integrity of the channel, allows one to achieve significantly better results: after all, the sleeve insert reduces the draft by narrowing the cross-section of the air duct. However, installing an acid-resistant sleeve and a condensate trap costs much less than dismantling the old duct and building a new chimney.

Few people have ever encountered such a phenomenon as condensation on the surface of a cold water pipeline. Although this unpleasant phenomenon can also occur on other structures - windows, external walls, in the corners of rooms.

The cause of condensation is moisture vapor contained in the air. When they come into contact with a cold surface, they cool down and turn into drops. The higher the humidity in the room and the greater the temperature difference between the air and the cold surface, the greater the likelihood of this unpleasant phenomenon occurring.

If pipes and windows in your house are chronically crying, then you urgently need to deal with the causes of this phenomenon.

This mainly affects areas such as the bathroom and toilet. This is where the risers of cold and hot pipelines are usually located.

There are several reasons for water condensation on pipes:

• poor ventilation of the bathroom and toilet, leading to high humidity in them and an increase in the overall temperature in these rooms;
• in the toilet, the cause of the problem may be a malfunction of the valve that shuts off the water in the toilet tank - leakage of water leads not only to leakage, but also to constant cooling of the cold water pipe;
• in the bathroom, condensation often forms for the same reason - a malfunction of the mixer valve that shuts off the cold water;
• high humidity in an apartment or house, which can be caused by many faults - poor ventilation, leaking roofing, incorrectly chosen insulation.

If condensation began to form recently, then the cause should be found out immediately, and not wait until the problem becomes chronic. Perhaps you have recently replaced windows or installed some equipment in your home that contributes to “warming the microclimate”.

It must be remembered that although condensate is just water, it is the main aggressive medium that destroys steel structures, including pipes.

In addition, excess moisture will sooner or later cause the appearance of fungus and mold not only on the pipes, but also in any parts of the apartment where there are cold surfaces.

And this is not just unsightly, but often even dangerous for people living in the house, especially allergy sufferers.

What to do if steamy pipes appear

The algorithm is very simple - you need to find the cause and eliminate it:

• You can start by checking the tank drain system and shut-off valves. To do this you will have to watch them. Sometimes people, leaving the bathroom, do not notice that the faucet is leaking, and the toilet valve periodically opens due to a decrease in the float level due to a small leak from the tank.
• Check the operation of the ventilation using a piece of paper or holding a lit match to the ventilation grille. If the piece of paper falls and the match burns evenly, it means the ventilation is not working.
• If you haven’t found any faults in your apartment, you will have to visit your upstairs neighbors and find out from them whether they have encountered the same problem. A malfunction on any floor located above leads to a constant circulation of cold water in the pipe, which significantly reduces its temperature.

• If you have forced ventilation in the bathroom and toilet, then it is worth checking the effectiveness of its operation.
• If everything is in order, but the pipes are “crying,” then the reason for this is that the temperature difference between the surface of the pipe and the surrounding air exceeds 17 degrees, and special methods will have to be used to solve the problem.

Options for solving the problem

The main idea of ​​all the methods listed below is to thermally insulate the cold water pipeline to reduce the intensity of its exposure to too warm air.

• Painting pipes with heat-insulating paint. This is a rather expensive, but at the same time effective way to solve the problem at hand. Here you should be patient, because to achieve the desired effect you will have to paint the pipe at least 5-6 times. Each previous layer of paint must be dried thoroughly and only then the next one must be applied. In this case, the room will have to be forcedly ventilated - a regular fan is suitable for this.

• Pipe insulation using foam insulation pads. The linings are soft pipes with a longitudinal section. They are put on a dry pipe like a cover, and the edges are then glued together. To achieve the desired effect, it is very important that the size of the lining ideally matches the diameter of the pipe. if it turns out to be larger, then there will be no effect at all, and if it is smaller, then you will not be able to glue the edges of the overlay. You can combine the two previous methods: first paint the pipe, dry the paint and put covers on it, which can also be painted on top with heat-insulating paint.
• By placing a larger plastic pipe on the pipe and filling the space with foam, you can also achieve good results. But here it is important that the foam completely and evenly fills the space between the pipes, otherwise the method will not work.
• Independent creation of thermal insulation on the surface of the pipe. This is an inexpensive but troublesome method, which is a completely reliable solution to the problem.

To create it you need to stock up on the following materials:

• epoxy putty;
• simple cotton fabric (for example, old sheets);
• strong thread or thin twine;
• putty knife;
• sandpaper;
• pipe rust remover;
• acetone or other suitable substance to degrease the pipe surface.

The fabric needs to be cut into strips approximately 10 cm wide and rolled into rolls. You can also use medical bandages of suitable width.

Next we proceed as follows:

• We clean the pipe from paint and thoroughly degrease its surface.
• Next, the pipe is treated with a rust preventative.
• After drying the pipe, you need to apply a layer of epoxy putty on it and immediately quickly wrap it with cloth from bottom to top. In this case, the turns of the fabric should overlap each other and be impregnated with putty. The fabric is then secured with thread.
• After the first layer has dried, several more are applied in the same way.
• At the end of the work, I coat the top of the pipe again with putty.

After the insulation has completely dried, it can be sanded and painted with paint of a suitable color.

In solving the problem of “crying” pipes, the main thing is not to miss the moment before the pipes begin to corrode.

If the problem cannot be eliminated by eliminating leaks in the valves of plumbing fixtures and good ventilation, it is better to immediately resort to thermal insulation.

Condensation is a common occurrence in homes. This phenomenon can usually be observed in the bathroom and toilet. Condensation forms more intensely in the summer, when a contrast is created between the cold pipe and warm air.

Despite the regularity and naturalness of the accumulation of water droplets on cold water pipes, this phenomenon causes a lot of inconvenience and causes some harm to the owners. Therefore, the question of how to get rid of the problem becomes relevant. There are several ways to deal with condensation on pipes. Not all of them can be applied independently; in some cases it is better to invite a qualified plumber.

Reasons for the formation of condensation on pipes

The key factors for moisture accumulation on pipes are:

• presence of a source of high humidity;
• poor-quality thermal insulation of pipes;
• poor ventilation;
• temperature changes.

Condensation is especially noticeable in the summer. It can drain from cold pipes, forming puddles. Pipe fogging can be caused by any of the reasons. But more often the problem arises when these conditions are combined.

As for high humidity, its source can be:

• steam from cooking in the kitchen;
• fumes from hanging wet clothes after washing;
• pipeline accidents or leaking pipes in the basement;
• clogged ventilation;
• violation of building construction technology;
• climate features;
• the presence of large bodies of water nearby.

More often, condensation appears on the pipes in the bathroom. In the bathroom, its cause may be poor ventilation of the room, leakage or pipes from neighbors.

Condensation in the toilet is caused by a leaking tank. The water in the pipe does not have time to warm up and is constantly replaced by cold water. The pipe cools even more. In such cases, it is necessary to repair the drain tank and check the serviceability of all taps.

Harm to humans

It is only at first glance that it seems that condensate is safe. It can create a lot of problems for home owners. When there is a large accumulation of water on the pipes, it begins to drain and form puddles. They not only render the flooring unusable, but can also leak to neighbors below in an apartment building.

Drops of condensation contribute to rapid wear of the water supply. This is a destructive environment for the metal from which the pipes are made. They become rusty, deformed and must be replaced after a while.

Note! The presence of condensation on cold water pipes causes a damp smell. Its presence indicates that mold fungi are multiplying in a room with high humidity. They are very dangerous to human health and can cause the development of a number of diseases.

Effective elimination methods

First of all, you need to find out what caused it and eliminate it. There are different ways to get rid of the accumulation of water droplets on a cold pipe.

Ventilation

It is necessary to inspect the ventilation system in the bathroom. It is good to clean all cobwebs, dust, and debris from the ventilation hole. It is better to install a special exhaust fan in place of the grille. This is especially true in case of insufficient passive ventilation. Such devices can operate both in forced manual mode and with automatic activation.

Chemicals

To protect against condensation on a cold pipeline, you can purchase special chemical compounds:

• Corundum;
• Astratek;
• Teplomet and others.

Application algorithm:

• Clean the surface of the pipes from rust and dirt.
• Apply a primer to them so that the composition adheres well.
• Allow the surface to dry completely and apply the protective mixture using a brush or spray.
• To ensure high-quality protection against condensation, apply 4-5 layers of the product.
• Apply each subsequent layer after the previous one has dried.

The choice of chemical composition depends on the reasons for the formation of condensation, as well as the frequency of its occurrence.

How to get rid of it on indoor plants? Read useful information.

There is a page on how to stretch suede shoes at home.

Thermal insulation of pipes

The easiest way is to use factory-produced thermal insulation materials K-Flex, penofol. They come in the form of self-adhesive tape, basalt fiber, and polypropylene foam. Cases made of foamed polyethylene - energyflex - are very popular. They have good fire protection characteristics, are easy to install, and are affordable.

To install such a heat insulator, you must first dry the pipe from condensation. Cut the energyflex pipe lengthwise. Place it on the cold pipe, starting from one end. The longitudinal seam is secured with clamps or glued. The insulation can be divided into sections if the pipe is very long. The thermal insulation material on top can be painted.

Thermal insulation can be installed in other ways:

• Take a plastic pipe with a slightly larger diameter than the water pipe. Cut it so that you can wrap it around the pipe with condensate. Fill the interpipe space with foam.
• Clean the pipe from dirt and rust, degrease with acetone. Apply 1 layer of putty. Bandage it with old rags so that they are saturated with putty. Let it harden. Apply another layer on top.

steam trap

This is a device for automatically removing excess moisture. It is installed at the outlet of heat exchangers (air heaters, water heaters). Float-type condensate traps are very popular. Their action is based on the difference in density of steam and condensate. These devices are resistant to temperature changes, have high performance, and have high energy saving rates.

There are different ways to deal with condensation on pipes. Which method to resort to can be decided after analyzing the situation and finding out the causes of the problem. In any case, care must be taken to ensure good ventilation in the house, thermal insulation of pipes, and normalization of air humidity if it is in excess.

Small droplets of condensate form on cold water and sewer pipes in apartments and private houses all the time. Most often this process can be observed in the summer. Despite the fact that this phenomenon is considered natural and quite natural, it causes a lot of inconvenience to many. We are trying to come up with something, but still, when we see condensation on the cold water pipes, we don’t know what to do. Why are these droplets so harmful?

It would seem that harmless condensation can create significant problems for the owners of an apartment or house:

• Accumulating and uniting, drops of water end up on the floor and form whole puddles there, which can even flow to the neighbors below. The floor covering may suffer so much from this that after a couple of years it will have to be replaced.
• Harmless drops also greatly reduce the service life of the water supply system, because it is an aggressive environment for metal. Pipes rust, become deformed and after some time will require major repairs.
• Condensation on pipes in the toilet, kitchen or bathroom can cause an unpleasant damp smell. But the smell is not so bad. It is much worse that the consequence of this is the formation of fungus and mold. Bacteria also multiply much more actively in a humid environment, putting people living in an apartment at risk of disease.

Reasons for the formation of droplets

Why does condensation form on pipes? Most often this happens due to the difference in temperature between the surface of the pipes and the air in the room. And if there is no ventilation in the room, or it does not function well enough, then nasty drops will definitely appear. Too humid indoor air also contributes to this. Moisture quickly settles on risers and pipes carrying cold liquid. Every room has its own causes of condensation.

Wet pipes in the toilet

In the toilet, the most common reasons for condensation settling on pipes include:

Condensation in the bathroom

To know how to deal with condensation on pipes in the bathroom, you must first find out the cause of this phenomenon. Some factors are similar to “toilet” ones, but there are also some nuances:

How to get rid of moisture on pipes?

There are several ways to remove condensate from pipes:

Ventilation

Inspect the vent. If you find debris, cobwebs and dust deposits there, you must thoroughly clean it all. After this, it is advisable to purchase a special fan, which is installed instead of the ventilation grille. Plumbing and building materials stores have a lot of such devices from various manufacturers. They can vary in power, price and design.

New tank

In the toilet, the problem of condensation can be solved with the help of a double tank. Inside such a device there is an additional plastic container into which cold water is collected. The outer walls do not cool too sharply, and therefore are not covered with drops of water. The downside is the high cost of the tank, which is most often sold only as a set together with the toilet.

Natural ventilation

If your bathroom or bathroom does not have supply and exhaust ventilation, organize life in your home so that everyone who takes a shower or bath must leave the door wide open when leaving the bathroom.

Thermal insulation of pipes

How to get rid of condensation on cold water pipes by thickening the walls? To reduce the temperature difference between the air and the pipe, it is advisable to insulate the pipe. In stores you can find several types of modern insulation materials. They are characterized by high fire safety, high thermal insulation properties, ease of installation, tightness and a completely low price. Special cases made of foamed polyethylene - energyflex - are very popular now. This material is very flexible, so installation should not be a problem. And multiple closed pores will protect very well from temperature “inconsistencies”.

To put the pipe in the energyflex you need to do the following:

• dry the pipe thoroughly, after wiping it with a dry cloth;
• the energyflex pipe must be cut lengthwise;
• starting from one edge, gradually put the insulating material on the entire pipe with cold water;
• the longitudinal seam of the energyflex is fastened with clamps or sealed with glue;
• if the pipe is long, then, using several pieces of insulation, you need to glue its ends together;
• After this, the insulating material, if desired, can be painted with paint from an aerosol can.

Another pipe and foam

How to eliminate condensation on a cold water pipe using improvised materials? If for some reason you cannot buy this modern insulating material, then you can try using a plastic pipe with a slightly larger diameter and polyurethane foam. The plastic pipe is also cut lengthwise and carefully placed on the water pipe. Then foam is injected into the annulus. This simple design will last long enough and will not interfere with repair work.

Note: Instead of a plastic pipe, many people use a metal corrugated pipe. You can also run polyurethane foam inside.

Rags

Another option is to use rags (bandages, any other cotton fabric) and epoxy putty. Before you begin insulating the pipe, it must be thoroughly cleaned of rust with sandpaper, and then degreased with acetone and treated with a rust converter. Only after this is the first layer of putty applied, which is immediately “bandaged” with cloth. When this coating has hardened, you need to apply another layer of epoxy.

Isollat ​​and other similar materials

When it comes to thermal insulation of cold water pipes, the universal insulating material “Izollat” helps a lot. This is a thermos paint in the form of a water-based suspension. After drying, the liquid mass hardens and turns into a polymer coating with excellent thermal insulation characteristics.

Painting a pipe with Izollat ​​is very simple:

• thoroughly clean with sandpaper and degrease the surface of the pipe;
• apply one layer of insulating material;
• wait for it to dry;
• use silicone varnish to finish the pipe and give it a glossy shine.

Moisture absorbers

In large construction supermarkets you can find wonderful household devices - moisture absorbers. They will help you deal with the problem quickly and without hassle. Their design is quite simple: an absorbent substance is placed in a plastic box. It will help not only eliminate condensation on the pipes, but also get rid of excessive humidity in the entire room.

Air conditioner

This is the most expensive option, but some people use it. Installing a climate-controlled air conditioner will ensure a constant optimal level of humidity.

What to do when water condensate remains on the pipes all the time? When you see water droplets in your apartment's waterways, don't ignore the problem in the hope that "it will somehow go away." Try to use one of the methods described above, and unpleasant consequences can be avoided.