Condensation on copper pipes

[Pford75]

Our cold water main enters the house in our kitchen (at ceiling height) and then disappears off into the bowels of the house. Having had no problems with it whatsoever for nearly 3 years (when the pipework was installed), on Thursday last week we suddenly started experiencing severe condensation on the copper pipe. Serious 'beading' along the entire length of the cold pipe, resulting in it dripping onto the floor below. The hot water pipe which runs close by is fine...leading to the conclusion that this is condensation and nothing else.

I understand that the easiest fix is insulation....but we are hoping to do some more major work in the kitchen later in the year...so am loathe to spend money on something to be changed. What i'm wondering though is why would the condensation suddenly occur? There has been no dramatic change in the air around the pipe (eg. steam/moisture etc.) and I am assuming that the incoming cold is the same temperature it has always been (perhaps even warmer than in recent months)

Any thoughts on why the sudden problem?

 

[Penners]

A sudden appearance of condensation like that would, in my view, be due to one or more of a several circumstances:

* A drop in the temperature of the water in the pipe
* An increase in the temperature and/or humidity of the air in the room, due to steam or some other domestic circumstance
* An increase in the temperature and/or humidity of the air in the room due to the weather

The weather has recently warmed up a fair bit, and there's been an enormous amount of rain (around here, anyway, and we're not that far from you). Those two conditions could cause a considerable increase in the humidity of the air in general. So maybe that's the cause of your problem.

 

[worms]

I would agree with Penners - the mains water is currently much colder (I get a daily guide to this by where the temperature gauge on the electric shower needs to be to get an acceptable shower) and there has been a recent dramatic rise in humidity (which was very low during the cold dry period). Our toilet cistern is showing the same problem after a number of dry weeks, it is running with condensation at the moment.

 

[Pford75]

thanks gents

 

[Me!]

Our toilet cistern is showing the same problem after a number of dry weeks, it is running with condensation at the moment.

Same here.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Yeah - what they all said.

Warmer wetter air + colder pipe = condensation. 8)

In advance of major works you could put some foam insulation on the pipe - but it's not pretty in a kitchen.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Dried hops and ribbons are. My copper pipes have had all manner of decorations.

Condensation is dreadful here at the moment since all the curtains have gone up. I'm going to be forced to open some windows. But isn't it warm?

 

[LadyArowana]

Much more likely that you have disturbed some unquiet spirits than anything to do with temperature or humidity. I recommend lots of bundles of garlic and if that doesn't cure it stick some old shoes up the chimney. Exorcism as a last resort of course.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Much more likely that you have disturbed some unquiet spirits than anything to do with temperature or humidity. I recommend lots of bundles of garlic and if that doesn't cure it stick some old shoes up the chimney. Exorcism as a last resort of course.

Or plaster a cat into the wall.

 

[LadyArowana]

Much more likely that you have disturbed some unquiet spirits than anything to do with temperature or humidity. I recommend lots of bundles of garlic and if that doesn't cure it stick some old shoes up the chimney. Exorcism as a last resort of course.

Or plaster a cat into the wall.

Joce is NOT going to like that, and will probably have the rest of the coven join me in sticking pins in the wax Wiggs figure :lol:

 

[MatthewC]

I would agree with Penners

And I would agree as well - it was warmer outside than inside on Thursday so I left the front door open for a while to freshen the air inside. However, later I found that the dampness had condensed on the cold walls in the hall so I decided to remove the old wall paper. This was a doddle as whole sheets came off in seconds. We also had condensation on the outside of all our windows. (Of course we are not yet living there...)

Matthew
http://houseintheenchantedforest.blogspot.com/

 

[Penners]

Much more likely that you have disturbed some unquiet spirits than anything to do with temperature or humidity. I recommend lots of bundles of garlic and if that doesn't cure it stick some old shoes up the chimney. Exorcism as a last resort of course.

Or plaster a cat into the wall.

Joce is NOT going to like that, and will probably have the rest of the coven join me in sticking pins in the wax Wiggs figure :lol:

Oh well, at least that lets me off the hook for a short time.

If it's good luck to brick a cat into the wall, I wonder whether it's EXCELLENT luck to put in a whole herd of them?

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Herd of cats? Herd?

Don't you mean a Hiss of cats? Or a Stare of cats?

 

[Penners]

I quite like a Hiss of cats. It carries the correct level of snooty indifference.

 

[biffvernon]

The one factor that has been different this year is that December has had lower average temperatures than for many years, so the incoming water, cooled in the reservoir and then flowing along miles of pipe in soil that is colder than for many years, will be at record low temperature. The lower the water temperature the more likely you'll get condensation. We keep a tea towel wrapped round the pipe!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

The one factor that has been different this year is that December has had lower average temperatures than for many years, so the incoming water, cooled in the reservoir and then flowing along miles of pipe in soil that is colder than for many years, will be at record low temperature. The lower the water temperature the more likely you'll get condensation. We keep a tea towel wrapped round the pipe!

I can attest to this - using the shower test above, we were on "maximum" until recently to get warm water... albeit a trickle at that flow restriction.

 

[Jill]

The one factor that has been different this year is that December has had lower average temperatures than for many years, so the incoming water, cooled in the reservoir and then flowing along miles of pipe in soil that is colder than for many years, will be at record low temperature.

For us it was so low that we have been without water (through our taps) for the past 25 days as our supply pipe froze somewhere between the water meter and the stop tap under the kitchen sink on 21st Dec. Thankfully the warmer weather finally defrosted the pipe last night. You don't realise how much water you use -and waste - until it isn't on tap.

 

[Flyfisher]

If it's good luck to brick a cat into the wall, I wonder whether it's EXCELLENT luck to put in a whole herd of them?

. . . or just use them to insulate the pipework. :twisted:

 

[LadyArowana]

Or plaster a cat into the wall.

Joce is NOT going to like that, and will probably have the rest of the coven join me in sticking pins in the wax Wiggs figure :lol:

Oh well, at least that lets me off the hook for a short time.

If it's good luck to brick a cat into the wall, I wonder whether it's EXCELLENT luck to put in a whole herd of them?

The waxwork Penners still has a long needle in the lower back area, you didn't think you were going to get away with saying all those mean things about our familiars did you?

 

[Penners]

I think top marks for practical creativity go to Flyfisher. Watch out for his leaflet in the dispenser at Bee an' Koo: "The cat as an insulator".