Central heating pipe insulation

stevemcol

Hello

I've just been under my ground floor putting a network cable in for youview. I noticed that though the main circuit CH pipes are lagged, the spurs for each radiator aren't. We're talking 4 or 5 feet for each each rad, supply and return, 4 rads, 10mm pipe. Is there likely to be a significant loss and subsequent saving if I was to lag these pipes?
It will be a dirty, uncomfortable job that I'm happy to do but I'd hope for a saving in the region of £50 per year to make it worth while. For info, my current gas bill is around £1000.
Grateful for any informed advice.

phill99

I would have thought you would be lucky to save £50 a year just by doing this.

stevemcol

phill99 wrote: »

I would have thought you would be lucky to save £50 a year just by doing this.

Yes, I think you are right. So it's down to my conscience whether I want to spend a couple of hours crawling around in a dirty 18inch gap surrounded by cobwebs and spiders. If I do get round to it, I'll probably go the full nine yards and rock wool insulate between the joists. That might be more worthwhile.

Ken68

I did mine Steve, from the top. Took up a few boards. Probably do a more complete job from below. Hold it in with nailed plastic netting, the wide sort as used for runner beans. Cheapest. I take you a thin guy.

stevemcol

Ken68 wrote: »

I did mine Steve, from the top. Took up a few boards. Probably do a more complete job from below. Hold it in with nailed plastic netting, the wide sort as used for runner beans. Cheapest. I take you a thin guy.

I wouldn't say thin but I fit, just. I had to breath out to fit through a couple of gaps! Taking up boards isn't an option as I have secret nailed oak boards on top of the orignal ones.

Did you notice a difference in your gas consumption?

Ken68

Yes Steve, big improvement but did the whole house, draught proofing ,extra in the loft and triple glazing (sort of) and needed a new roof at the same time with felting. Heavy curtains up the front and back doors.Prsent gas 11600kwh per year but have had it down to 9500. Electric 1400kwh.
What I should have done was put the safe down there with hinged access but too late now, H.D. underlay with thick carpet and rugs.
And if access, maybe storage of some sort.

stevemcol

Answering my own question I know but for interest....I found an engineering website with a paper that estimates the loss from a 10mm pipe carrying water at 70° to be 45W/M. Adding up roughly for the whole ground floor, mulitplying for annual use at EDFs current tariff, I'd save up to £25 per year if I insulated the remaining pipes. I'll do it if I ever get round to insulating the under floor.

Mr_Ted

On the ground floor there is also frost protection to be considered?
The pipework wont always be HOT!

stevemcol

Mr_Ted wrote: »

On the ground floor there is also frost protection to be considered?
The pipework wont always be HOT!

Thanks. The boiler is located in the coal store and has frost protection stat.

gas4you

stevemcol wrote: »

Thanks. The boiler is located in the coal store and has frost protection stat.

That's protecting the boiler ok, but is it actually making the heating come on when it is activated?

stevemcol

gas4you wrote: »

That's protecting the boiler ok, but is it actually making the heating come on when it is activated?

Good point, worth checking!