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Seal the Deal: Don't Let Your Heat Pump Leak Energy

 
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Insulation
Last Post by Toodles 11 months ago
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Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 4838
13/08/2024 10:50 pm  

@johnmo not entirely sure I agree. Heat loss is still heat loss, regardless of whether the pipes are inside a heated environment or not. Insulating the pipes ensures that the heat is used more effectively where it’s needed, especially in a low and slow single zone system. Why would I want to heat my plant room? The goal should be to maximise efficiency, and pipe insulation is one way to help with that.

Of course, different situations might warrant different approaches, so I appreciate the perspective and will check out what Heat Geek has to say on the matter too.


🔥 Britain’s Heat Pump Shitshow
How Installing a Heating System Became a National Nervous Breakdown
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 Anonymous 5011
(@Anonymous 5011)
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 562
14/08/2024 9:02 am  

Posted by: @editor
↑

@johnmo not entirely sure I agree. Heat loss is still heat loss, regardless of whether the pipes are inside a heated environment or not. Insulating the pipes ensures that the heat is used more effectively where it’s needed, especially in a low and slow single zone system. Why would I want to heat my plant room? The goal should be to maximise efficiency, and pipe insulation is one way to help with that.
Of course, different situations might warrant different approaches, so I appreciate the perspective and will check out what Heat Geek has to say on the matter too.

Heat loss is still heat loss, - not entirely correct, if within the thermal envelope it either contributes to the heat emitter surface area via the pipe surface area, and or balances the hot and cooler areas (voids etc) so heat doesn't migrate away from area where the radiator is.
Insulate DHW duty pipes, as these would heat the house in summer - not good 
It's a heat geek video on YouTube.
 



   
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bontwoody
 bontwoody
(@bontwoody)
Noble Member Contributor
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 1059
18/08/2024 1:19 pm  

@jamespa I bought a pair of these for my anti freeze valves.
-- Attachment is not available --
https://www.bes.co.uk/primary-pro-insulation-for-28mm-anti-freeze-valve-26215/?srsltid=AfmBOoorh-4WIzAjeoCU76_wv1E1cCJNuh4sRi8EoTD1OWIHmSIGqPbN


House-3 bed partial stone bungalow, 5kW Samsung Gen 6 ASHP (Self install)
6.9 kWp of PV
10kWh DC coupled battery
Blog: https://thegreeningofrosecottage.weebly.com/
Heatpump Stats: http://heatpumpmonitor.org/system/view?id=60


   
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 Rod
(@rod)
Eminent Member Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 24
10/10/2024 11:49 am  

Any recommendations on reasonably priced exterior insulation or alternate methods to insulate - e.g. boxing in the exterior pipes and using something else to insulate other than foam? I have about 20m of pipe and am seeing prices of £17 per meter so a £350 cost. My installers used standard grey foam interior pipe insulation on the outside pipes, I didn't know enough to challenge them and it's quickly degraded.



   
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bontwoody
 bontwoody
(@bontwoody)
Noble Member Contributor
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 1059
10/10/2024 1:07 pm  

@rod 28mm Primary Pro is just under £10 per metre (ex vat) at BES, Rod


House-3 bed partial stone bungalow, 5kW Samsung Gen 6 ASHP (Self install)
6.9 kWp of PV
10kWh DC coupled battery
Blog: https://thegreeningofrosecottage.weebly.com/
Heatpump Stats: http://heatpumpmonitor.org/system/view?id=60


   
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 Rod
(@rod)
Eminent Member Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 24
10/10/2024 3:07 pm  

Many thanks - that is a saving, but still seems pretty high! Has anyone found inexpensive solutions to exterior insulation where there is the ability to cheaply box-in the pipework over whatever is insulating them?



   
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bontwoody
 bontwoody
(@bontwoody)
Noble Member Contributor
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 1059
10/10/2024 3:14 pm  

@rod Well as long as you are boxing the pipes in, I suppose a closed cell expanding foam might work well. Dont use an open cell one though, I tried that in my early heat pump years and when I came to remove it, the whole thing was full of water 😲


House-3 bed partial stone bungalow, 5kW Samsung Gen 6 ASHP (Self install)
6.9 kWp of PV
10kWh DC coupled battery
Blog: https://thegreeningofrosecottage.weebly.com/
Heatpump Stats: http://heatpumpmonitor.org/system/view?id=60


   
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 AllyFish
(@allyfish)
Prominent Member Contributor
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 520
03/02/2025 1:07 pm  

Weekend upgrade, Primary Pro done properly, unlike my installer’s attempt. Less heating the street hopefully 😉

IMG 5788

 

 



   
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 seatonian
(@seatonian)
Joined: 1 year ago
Posts: 1
12/07/2025 3:45 pm  

Hi - fyi - there's a dead image link in the 'Optimal Insulation Efficiency' section. (hopefully tagging @editor)



   
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Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 4838
25/09/2025 2:30 pm  

Game time!

Here’s the trunking that hides our wiring, heat pump flow & return pipes. What do you reckon is waiting under the cover?

  • Professionally lagged to perfection?
  • A few rough edges but nothing major?
  • Full-blown shocker?

Place your bets before I lift the lid… 👀

Trunking1
Trunking 2

This post was modified 12 months ago by Mars

🔥 Britain’s Heat Pump Shitshow
How Installing a Heating System Became a National Nervous Breakdown
Free UK shipping.
Rewritten and updated for 2027
📘 From Zero to Heat Pump Hero
🛠️ Bodge Buster
New to heat pumps?
Take the Heat Pump Fundamentals course and use INTRO50 at checkout for 50% off.


   
🤠
1
ReplyQuote
bontwoody
 bontwoody
(@bontwoody)
Noble Member Contributor
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 1059
25/09/2025 2:51 pm  

@editor I'll go with shocker 😁


House-3 bed partial stone bungalow, 5kW Samsung Gen 6 ASHP (Self install)
6.9 kWp of PV
10kWh DC coupled battery
Blog: https://thegreeningofrosecottage.weebly.com/
Heatpump Stats: http://heatpumpmonitor.org/system/view?id=60


   
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Toodles
 Toodles
(@toodles)
Famed Member Contributor
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 2944
25/09/2025 3:23 pm  

@editor In light of the previous postings on the matter, I think Shocking is the nearest but may lack true strength to describe the magnitude of the real situation! Toodles.


Toodles, heats his home with cold draughts and cooks food with magnets.


   
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