Dacha plots and private country houses are mostly not equipped with centralized water supply. For this reason, their masters have to independently find a solution to the problem of providing water to their dacha. Someone manages a conventional well and brings water in buckets. This can be tolerated if the dacha you visit only from time to time. It is quite another matter when you are constantly living in such a house. In this case, we will have to build a water supply system. By itself, this is a rather complex and expensive process. But in addition, it is worth remembering that we live in regions with a cold climate. Therefore, when constructing a water pipe, it is necessary to pay close attention to its insulation, so that in the first winter, the problem of freezing water in the pipes will not be encountered.
Diagram of the
suburban water supply system. How to reliably insulate the plumbing, with what materials is it better to do it? After all, if you do not perform a complex of these works, you will have to deal with complex and expensive repairs after the first good frost.
Overview of materials for the insulation of the country water supply
. The water supply and its insulation is a subject for reflection by anyone who has come across water supply issues for a dacha or a country house. The modern construction market is simply filled with a variety of novelties designed for heat insulation of pipes. Most consumers do not take risks and prefer buying time-tested materials. Some are pursuing innovations, not paying any attention to their technical characteristics. This approach can lead to the fact that the insulation will not be performed qualitatively and the water supply will simply freeze.
Often people trust the advertisement too much and do not even bother to read the annotation to the material in which the producer specifies all the characteristics. Without fail it is necessary to demand from the seller a certificate of quality for the purchased goods. Even better, when the material has a voluntary certificate indicating the results of technical tests and independent tests of insulation characteristics. Today, the most widely distributed are: mineral wool and glass wool, synthetic rubber, expanded polyethylene. These materials are successfully used for the insulation of pipelines.
Mineral wool and glass wool - the most traditional material for insulation of pipes
Mineral wool has excellent thermal insulation properties, but it is quite expensive. Mineral cotton wool, glass wool and paklyu for the warming of suburban water pipes have been used for a long time. Under the influence of moisture in the thickness of the earth, this type of insulation swells, sealing joints. The service life of such insulation is 10 years, but painted with oil paint it can be extended to 20 years.
Wrapped with mineral cotton wool or glass wool pipes, it is enough to slip it 50 cm into the ground and close it with a roofing felt to prevent freezing. To make sure with the onset of winter, the place where the pipe passes is covered with snow. Naturally, this depth is permissible only for the regions of the middle band. In the north and in Siberia, the depth of the laying of pipes should be increased, at least 2 times.
mineral wool bundled Basalt fiber
This insulation is made in the form of cylinders especially for pipes. Basalt fiber has high thermal insulation qualities. It is very convenient to use, since the pipe is simply inserted into the hole inside the cylinders. For their installation, no professional skills are required. Even a child can cope with this task. Put on the pipes cylinders of basalt fiber wrapped on top of the waterproofing material. It is most convenient to use a self-adhesive film on a bitumen base, but it is also possible to use a common ruberoid. These heaters have excellent technical characteristics, but they have a disadvantage - quite high cost.
Cylinders from basalt wool for pipes
Synthetic rubber
This material has excellent thermal insulation qualities, it is light and completely non-toxic. Foamed synthetic rubber is used for thermal insulation of any pipelines. Not an exception and the water supply in the country. The main advantage of the material is its elasticity, which greatly facilitates the installation. This material is completely non-toxic and can be used on any sites, even where safety requirements are increased. Synthetic rubber is sold in the form of sheets and pipes. When bonding the seam is very durable and reliable, which is comparable with the method of cold welding. This material also has a high cost.
Foamed synthetic rubber for insulation of pipeline
Application of foam polyethylene as insulation for pipes
This material has not very good thermal insulation properties and does not allow for good sealing of joints. This greatly limits the field of application of polyethylene foam. If you decide to use it for insulation of the suburban pipeline, prepare yourself for the fact that there may be strong heat losses, including due to divergence of joints. Therefore, such a water pipe will need frequent repairs. To improve the situation, it is necessary to use polyethylene in the construction and warming of water pipes. Polyethylene insulation pipes are a comprehensive solution to the problem of water pipe insulation. A corrugated pipe is placed on the heat-insulating layer of polyethylene, which ensures complete hermeticity of the system and its elasticity simultaneously.
Example of pipes covered with a polyethylene shell
Polyethylene is easy to install, and is not very expensive. Pipes from this material can be used both on newly installed systems in the suburban area, and already on the functioning ones. Pipes have a special latch, which provides a convenient dismantling of insulation if necessary.
Thermal insulation of water pipes with increased pressure
Knowledge of physical laws often helps to use certain properties of substances in practice. It is generally known from the school course of thermodynamics that when the pressure is increased, the crystallization temperature of liquids decreases significantly. Even reaching the pressure of water in the 3 atmosphere excludes its freezing even in the coldest winter. Thanks to this knowledge, we can protect our country water supply from freezing if we install a receiver on it. This device will help increase the pressure in the system.
If there is a long absence in the country, simply turn on the receiver and start the pump. It is necessary to create a pressure of at least 3 to 4 atmospheres in the system. Note that the pump must be able to raise the pressure to 7-8 atmospheres. In this condition the water pipe will not freeze if all its pipes are under pressure. To start the water pipe, you just need to turn off the receiver and squeeze out the pressure. When using this method, a non-return valve must be installed behind the pump, which will protect the system from excessive pressure and destruction. In general, when using the receiver, you need to be fully confident in the strength of the entire water supply system. For this purpose, immediately after installation, a pressure test must be carried out for the required pressure value with a margin.
Receiver for suburban water pipe
Warm water pipe with heating cable
There are times when a trench can not be dug deep enough due to high groundwater levels. In this case, you can use an electric heating cable. It is simply wrapped in a spiral around the tube and plugged into the net. Such a cable can consume only 10 W of electricity, which is enough to prevent the water from freezing. The heating cable can also be used in combination with other heaters, especially in problem areas of the pipe, for example, when passing through the foundation. Note that the heating cable can also be placed inside the pipe. It is well insulated, so there will be no current breakdown.
Pipe with heating cable
Insulation of pipes of country water supply with air
A very interesting way of warming a water pipe is the use of warm air coming from the ventilation of the cellar or cellar. If you place a water pipe inside a larger diameter pipe and start warm air there, you can achieve the desired result. To supply warm air to the outer tube, it is connected to the ventilation of the cellar or cellar, and the other end is taken out. In this case, it is necessary to install a suction deflector into this air channel, which will allow air to circulate faster, not allowing it to cool.
Everyone knows that with increasing depth, the temperature increases. This property of the earth's crust can be used with advantage, if you arrange a thermal insulation in the form of an umbrella. In this case, the heat coming from the earth's interior will heat the water pipe, and the heat from the water will not radiate outward.
Using the
Foam Shell The most well-known thermal insulation method is the use of a polyurethane foam shell. If this heater is installed and used correctly, its service life may exceed 50 years. To install such a heater you will need the shell itself in the required quantity, scotch, staples and clamps. Still need special glue. An important condition for thermal insulation is a very tight fit of the shell to the pipe. Unclosed areas should not remain at all.
This insulation has a layer of waterproofing made of fiberglass or foil, which perfectly protects against ingress of moisture. Thermal conductivity of polyurethane foam is very, very low. This will almost completely preserve the heat flowing through the water pipe. In addition, this material is cheap and very convenient to install. The most economical and convenient option for the insulation of the suburban water pipe is the use of a polyurethane foam shell. Its size and shape can be different: both standard and non-standard. They are warmed by joints and curved sections of the pipeline. Any damaged area of insulation can always and easily be replaced with a new one, without resorting to dismantling the entire water pipe.
The main limitation when installing polyurethane foam on pipes is the inadmissibility of its wetting. Installation can be made only in dry weather, since the moisture that has fallen under the shell, completely reduces all the thermal insulation properties of this material.
Shell of polyurethane foam is the best option for warming the country water supply system
If you are still planning to make a water supply and do not know which insulation option to use, purchase pipes with already finished insulation. This will significantly reduce installation costs and the risk of defrosting during the winter. And if you decided to insulate the existing summer water supply for use in the winter, use one of our tips. Properly held insulation of the water pipe will save you trouble during the winter.
