Pipes Sweating In Attic

Insulating your pipes reduces heat loss and keeps cold pipes from sweating in warm weather.

Pipes sweating in attic. Sweating occurs when the water inside the pipe is much colder than surrounding humid air. However an attic in pensacola florida is likely to have a humidity level closer to 100 and the risk of condensation on ductwork would then go up quite a bit. How to fix sweating copper pipes richard we have an air handler in a finished attic closet. In winter the air is heated by the furnace.

Cut pipe insulation to length with a serrated bread knife. Run down to the local. If your cold water pipes are sweating more than you are on these hot summer days here s the simple cure. The process for insulating attic pipes is no different than insulating other pipes in your home.

Pipes that run above suspended ceilings for example will often not collect condensation because the area is drier than the basement itself. There are self adhesive or drip tape types of insulation that adhere to pipes to prevent moisture. We use the attic for our home office and tv room. Broken water pipes may also cause trigger condensation in attics.

Seal joints between lengths of tubing with special peel and stick seam sealing tape or foil duct tape. On the other hand if there s a minor hair line crack in the pipe it could release a very small yet still damaging amount of water. Specifically cold water pipes in warm places think basements crawlspaces attics can produce condensation. In other words cover as much pipe as you can without sacrificing your sanity or the economic security of your family.

There are several ways to troubleshoot sweating pipes and prevent moisture damage in future. When insulating pipes in the attic there are some steps you need to follow. Think about it condensation on ductwork probably isn t a big problem in phoenix arizona but why. The condensation that forms on the outside of a cold pipe or component is actually moisture from the air not the pipe.

Because the average humidity level is 10 20 in phoenix. Well pressure tanks are also the source of mucho condensation. If the pipe is completely busted then you ll likely experience a severe flooding of the attic. This may be more common on metal pipes which conduct thermal energy more easily and so often grow colder than other pipe materials.

I noticed the last time i went into the closet the copper pipes that go into the air handler were sweating and dripping on the floor. Like a cold bottle of soda on a hot day when humid air comes in contact with a chilled pipe or component the air loses its capacity to hold water vapor as a result excess water forms into liquid water droplets on or near the. Those of you who read this blog regularly understand the importance of insulating your pipes before winter. In either case when warm humid air reaches cold pipes drops of moisture form and drip as if there was a tiny hole in the pipe.