Condensation and the rising main

[vicky whitworth]

Hello, I have an on-going problem in my scullery where the very cold rising main enters the house and where the stop cock is. The scullery is warm as it contains the central heating boiler and so I get severe condensation on the cold water pipes running along the wall at floor level. So much so that the water drips off the pipes and onto the slate floor.

When we had work done on the house last year I had the horrid cement render taken off the downstairs walls and replaced with lime plaster - except in the scullery as, to be honest, I couldn't financially justify it. Now I know that was a mistake but hey, you live and learn.

The condensation is now attacking the paint on the scullery wall in a patch behind the pipe work and it doesn't seem right to just let the water continue to accumulate.

It's been suggested that I just put insulation over the pipes and that should sort it but that's not going to look very attractive. I could then box it all in but I don't really like pipe work boxed in particularly as we're talking about the main stop cock.

I still can't find the finances to have the cement render taken off nor can I face the mess that makes so any less invasive suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks, Vicky

 

[Feltwell]

Hi Vicky - boxing it in sounds sensible to me, with insulation inside the boxing. I know it obscures your stopcock, but it should be possible to make it so that you have an easily removeable section to get at it - or fit one of these remote switches:-

http://www.surestop.co.uk/about-us.asp

With a cold rising main and a warm room I can't see how you can avoid condensation without insulating /seperating the rising main in some way. I know boxing in isn't terribly attractive, but as it's a functional room could you not live with it? Or disguise it as something else?

The end wall of my downstairs loo is a nightmare - gas boiler hung on the wall, water softener plumbed in below that, and the rising main and lots of plumbing beneath that. I've managed to pick up from Ebay an old built-in cupboard front - the kind of thing you get in the recess next to a chimney breast in a kitchen, just a front frame with doors and drawers below, no back or sides to it. It's the perfect size to fit across the end of my loo and hide all the junk behind, it will just look like a built-in cupboard. Is something similar possible in your scullery?

 

[AMc]

If the condensation is causing a problem you can resolve this for less than £10 and about half an hours shopping and DIY fitting. It probably took longer to post your question and this reply!

Take a look at the pipe and measure its diameter - it's probably 22mm or 28mm if it's reasonably modern - then measure it's length giving a generous allowance for overage.
Go to your local B&Q or plumbers merchant and buy foam pipe insulation. Ideally the stuff which is cut almost all the way through to make it easier to get a clean edge. You simply run your finger down the split, push the insulation over the pipe and it holds itself in place. This costs about a quid a metre e.g. http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9273772&fh_view_size=10&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB&fh_search=pipe+insulation&fh_eds=%C3%9F&fh_refview=search&ts=1264762301716&isSearch=true
If you need to cut sections to length a sharp knife of even scissors will do.

It's supposedly "better" to glue the insulation together once it's in place but as you're only trying to stop condensation not heat loss, just pushing it over the pipe will make a massive difference to the problem and it's totally reversible.

If you think it's really ugly then you could box it in once everything is dry and leave the section with the stopcock exposed for easy access. You may know where it is behind a careful concealed flap in the boxing but if you're neighbour feeding the cat finds a burst pipe you don't want the stopcock to be any more hidden that it has to be!

This is really a simple job anyone could do and you shouldn't delay if the condensation is as bad as you indicate.

It's just started snowing here and I have some hot pipe manifolds to box and insulate!

 

[vicky whitworth]

Thank you - I'll be off to the DIY stores tomorrow. In fact I think we might even have some of that stuff kicking out in a shed. Love the idea of a faux cupboard front. I think I might just put the hoover in front of it for now!

 

[biffvernon]

We have our rising main wrapped in a tea towel. Seems to do the job.

 

[Penners]

It's been suggested that I just put insulation over the pipes and that should sort it but that's not going to look very attractive. I could then box it all in but I don't really like pipe work boxed in particularly as we're talking about the main stop cock.

Sorry, Vicky, but you can't fight physics. Warm, moisture-laden house air strikes very cold pipe. Result - condensation.

The only solution is to keep the warm air and the cold pipe apart - with insulation.

You could box in the insulated pipes, if that's aesthetically more acceptable to you. Just leave a little opening door in the boxing where the stopcock is.

 

[vicky whitworth]

Life here seems to be one uphill battle against condensation. If it's not the roof it's the rising main. Might join you, Biff, on the tea towel option. I have several that my father's floozy gave me for Christmas that will do that job to perfection!

 

[JoceAndChris]

I do sympathise with Vicky not liking the look of lagging though. I pulled all mine off, and tied little red ribbons all along the copper pipes instead - so pretty.

 

[vicky whitworth]

I like your style. Do the red ribbons help with the condensation?!!! :lol: I'm abandoning the tea towel and getting the ribbon out.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Well, up to a point. I hang seasonal displays on my copper pipes with aforementioned ribbons- dried hops, branches of berried holly, that kind of thing.

The pipes are not as hot as they were with lagging round.

 

[Moo]

Joce - with your high standards you are, of course, keeping your copper pipes brightly polished under all that pretty ribbon.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Of course! I was a bit disappointed that the Brasso didn't create the same kind of impact it does on brass though.

I do hope that most people reading this will have a bit more of a life!

 

[Penners]

...not liking the look of lagging... I pulled all mine off, and tied little red ribbons all along the copper pipes instead - so pretty.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. You're such a girl!

Now go and put the insulation back around those pipes. I give you permission to tie it on with red ribbons if you must.


:wink:

 

[LadyArowana]

Now go and put the insulation back around those pipes. I give you permission to tie it on with red ribbons if you must.


:wink:

I think Mr P is on to something there, with a bit of ingenuity and some maypole dancers you should be able to cover all traces of the offending insulation :lol:

 

[JoceAndChris]

So much more ingenious than ugly old foam lagging!

I've said it before and I'll say it again. You're such a girl!

It's been so excrutiatingly cold in this unlagged house it's a long time since I checked, but I do believe it's the case.

My pipes are in an extremely prominent spot, high in the air and right in the middle of my groined vault. Therefore, Mr P, I do hope you will relax your severe injuncton to cover them up?

 

[Penners]

Resisting the urge to make some schoolboy play on the word "groin", I will simply say that the judgement must of course, be yours. But you mentioned that the pipes are not as hot as they were with lagging around them, so I must only hope that the escaping heat is being put to good use.

Otherwise the climate police will be knocking on your door with an insulation warrant.