Hot water pipes in pantry

Maggie_Bob

We bought our first home and moved in a week ago, so we've been getting stuck in with making it ours and some essential DIY. There is a big cupboard in the kitchen that I presume housed the hot water tank once upon a time. This has been replaced with a combi boiler in an upstairs bedroom, and the previous occupants were apparently using this cupboard for hanging coats.

As it's a proper brick cupboard, and big enough to walk in to, I had instantly earmarked it as my pantry, planned to put up shelves etc as required. However, on first running the heating, we realised that there are three vertical pipes towards the front of the cupboard and two of these heat up when the heating is running. Not ideal for somewhere I want to store food, even if just dry foods etc.

I just wanted to ask, is the best solution to insulate and box in the pipes? Will this be okay to do and is it likely to reduce the residual heat in the cupboard? Or is there another solution I haven't thought of? Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions!

Jonesya

I'd insulate them with foam pipe lagging, but it comes in different thicknesses so worth getting the thicker version to minimise heat leakage. I found cable ties good for securing it in position.

If you're carefully trimming it you can fit it around bends.

This sort of stuff, for 22mm pipe:
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Pipe-Insulation-Byelaw-22-x-1000mm/p/210013

DorsetLad

Yes, insulating with thick pipe insulation will almost block the heat output of the pipes. Box them in too if you want, though not necessary. We have a similar, though smaller, cupboard where the boiler used to be. The pipes that ran from the boiler to the upstairs hot water cylinder are now used to carry the central heating water down from the boiler upstairs - your pipes may be the same. I have lagged these pipes but not completely, as we like to have a slightly-warm, dry cupboard for storing flour, sugar, dried pasta, and rice. Sealed jars and tins go in there too. To store perishable food you would ideally need a cold (i.e. outside) pantry.
What is the third pipe for? Is that hot water to your kitchen tap? You may wish to lag that one too.

Maggie_Bob

Thank you both - looks like lagging is the sensible way to go! We might box in for aesthetics (or we might decide it's too much work for too little gain)