Condensation on the pipes in the apartment. Tired of a puddle under a pipe? How to minimize the formation of condensation on water pipes. Sources of Excess Humidity

Quite often, condensation can appear on cold water pipes.

Small drops of condensate are formed on the pipeline and sewerage in apartment buildings and cottages all the time. This process is usually observed in summer. Often the owners of houses and apartments have a question about what to do if there is condensate on the cold water pipes.

Condensation in the house causes a lot of inconvenience to many. It will be useful to know what are the causes of this phenomenon and how to get rid of it.

Condensation causes the following problems:

Accumulating and uniting, water droplets end up on the floor surface and form large puddles there, which can even leak into neighboring apartments.
Finishing the floor from this may suffer so that after a couple of years the coating will have to be changed.
Harmless droplets greatly reduce the life of the plumbing system, because it is an aggressive environment for a metal surface. Pipes become rusty, bent and, after a certain period, require major repairs.

The presence of condensate greatly damages the pipes

Also, drops on the pipes in the toilet, bathroom or on the riser can provoke a terrible smell of dampness. Because of this, fungus and mold appear. Bacteria also multiply more rapidly in such conditions and cause disease.

Causes of appearance on the pipes in the toilet

Condensation forms on water pipes due to the difference in temperature between the surface of the pipeline and the air in the room. And if there is no ventilation in the room, or it does not work well, then mini-drops are necessarily formed. Pipes also sweat due to high humidity. Water actively settles on risers and pipes that conduct cold water. Each room has its own reasons for the formation of drops. Wet pipes in the bathroom become due to poor ventilation.

Condensation on pipes may appear due to high humidity

To understand that condensation appears on the pipes in the house, you can do the following:

At night, leave the doors to the toilet unlocked;
If you find wet pipes in the morning, something needs to be done to fix problems with the ventilation system.

Systematic leakage of water from the tank also provokes condensation. If water is constantly leaking in a small stream into the toilet bowl, then the tank will be replenished with the coldest water.

Due to the fact that the water in the tank almost does not heat up, moisture is formed both on the toilet bowl and on the pipeline.

This problem is easy to solve by checking the health of the toilet and repairing the release valve and the faucet at the tank.

Condensation also forms if the pipe leaks.

What to do to solve the problem

Today, special cases made of foamed PE - energy flex - are in great demand. This material is very elastic, so there will be no problems with mounting on pipes. This is an excellent protection against temperature "inconsistencies".

You can remove condensate from the pipeline in the following ways:

Ventilation system. We need to check the ventilation. If you find dirt and dust, you need to carefully rinse everything. After that, buy a special fan, which must be installed instead of the ventilation grill. In specialized stores there are fans from different manufacturers. They can be of different power, cost and design.
New tank. In the bathroom, the problem of condensate can be solved by placing a double tank. Inside this model there is an additional plastic container, which is filled with cold water. External walls do not cool quickly, so condensation does not form. Among the shortcomings is the high price of the product, which is usually sold only in conjunction with the toilet.
Natural ventilation. If there is no high-quality ventilation system in the toilet or bathroom, you can organize life in the apartment so that everyone who washes leaves the door unlocked when leaving the bathroom.
Thermal insulation of the pipeline. It is possible to remove mini-drops on the piping system by thickening the walls. To eliminate the temperature difference between the air and the pipeline, the pipe must be wrapped.

In stores you can buy special heaters. They are resistant to fire, are characterized by high thermal insulation qualities, they are easy to work with, they are airtight and inexpensive.

Ways to protect against condensation

Another pipe and sealant will help to remove condensate on the cold water pipeline. If you can’t get a unique insulating material, you can take a plastic pipe with a slightly larger diameter and sealant.

The plastic pipe is cut lengthwise and carefully put on the water supply. Further, foam is poured into the annular space.

This method will protect against condensation and will last for a long time, will not interfere if repairs are required. Attention! Instead of a plastic pipe, many use a corrugated metal pipe. Inside, you can also pour sealant.

Sealant will help get rid of condensate on pipes

There are several other ways to protect against condensation:

Rags. Another solution is to use rags (bandages or any cotton fabric) and epoxy putty. Before work on the insulation of the pipeline, it must be well cleaned of rust with sandpaper, and then degreased with a special agent and treated with a corrosion converter. Then you need to apply the first layer of putty, which is immediately “bandaged” with matter. When this coating becomes hard, another layer of epoxy must be applied.
Isollat and other similar materials. In the issue of insulation of the cold water pipeline, the universal heat-insulating material Isollat perfectly helps. This is a thermal paint in the form of a water-based emulsion. After drying, the composition hardens and becomes a polymer with excellent thermal insulation properties. It is not difficult to paint the pipeline with Isollat. It is necessary to thoroughly clean the “sandpaper” and degrease the surface of the pipeline. Spread one layer of insulating compound and wait until it dries. Next, you need to take a silicone varnish for the finish coat and give the pipeline a gloss.
Moisture absorbers. In modern hypermarkets, you can find excellent household appliances - moisture absorbers. They can handle condensation without any problems. The design of the absorbers is simple: an absorbent substance is placed in a plastic box. It will not only help remove annoying drops on the pipeline, but also get rid of excessive moisture in the house.
A split system will also help eliminate water drops on the pipeline network in the house. This is a more expensive option, but some people use it too. Installation of equipment with climate control will create a favorable microclimate in the room. The market offers a wide range of air conditioners, both economy and premium. Installation of equipment must be carried out by professionals.

What to do when the condensate on the water supply keeps constantly? When you notice drops of water on the pipes of an apartment building, do not ignore them in the hope that everything will fix itself. This problem needs to be fought. Try to use one of the methods described above, and the negative consequences will be avoided.

One of the annoying surprises in the toilet and in the combined bathroom can be the appearance of condensate on the toilet bowl. Agree, this is not just a minor nuisance - this is a real problem that not only lowers the level of comfort, but can also adversely affect the health of all family members.

Yes, and any repair made with the highest quality materials will fail in the fight against the consequences that arose after prolonged exposure to condensate.

Everyone knows that it is much easier to prevent a problem than to deal with it later. And you can do it on your own, without resorting to the services of specialists. To do this, you need to understand why condensation appears on the toilet bowl, and how to eliminate the root cause of its formation.

We will help you determine the causes of “precipitation” on plumbing, as well as describe possible solutions to the problem. We supplemented the material with videos and photo instructions that clearly demonstrate how you can get rid of this unpleasant phenomenon on your own.

The condensate that appears on the tank belongs to the category of household problems. To learn how to deal with it effectively, you have to figure out the reasons for its appearance in a particular room.

Only then will it be possible to choose the best option to deal with it.

The nature of the formation of condensate

First of all, you need to understand the nature of the occurrence of "precipitations" on the drain tank. Condensation is water droplets that fall out of the air. They are formed from a sharp temperature drop and act on the surface of objects.

Condensation after taking a shower is a fairly common phenomenon that disappears in a matter of minutes. But the constant trickles flowing down from the toilet bowl and through the cold water pipes can bring a lot of problems.

The condensate on the drain tank is water formed from the impact of cold water at a temperature of 7-15 ° C on the inner walls of a faience container and warm air at a temperature of 25-32 ° C acting from the outside.

From a sharp drop on the outer walls of the container, like dew, drops of water protrude

Causes of condensation on the tank

The appearance of condensate on the drain tank indicates the presence of one of the problems that must be identified and measures taken to eliminate it.

To understand who is to blame, you have to pay attention to the following factors:

cold water consumption;
ventilation in the bathroom;
condition of the tank fittings;
humidity level.

With frequent filling of the drain tank, a large amount of condensate forms - cold water does not have time to warm up to room temperature.

Condensation can also be a symptom of a second problem - a non-working ventilation system. Especially if the ventilation hole is removed in the room with the toilet, there is a threshold at the entrance, and the doors fit snugly.

This is quite dangerous for users of combined bathrooms - without proper ventilation, you can simply suffocate.

No matter how beautiful the interior of the combined bathroom is, you have to think about safety first of all by making ventilation holes

Another reason for a drain tank to get wet is a broken shutoff valve. When seals leak or, then increased water consumption and, as a result, excessive condensation on the outer wall of the faience container cannot be avoided.

Even the most expensive monolithic drain tank is not immune from the breakdown of the internal filling, when you can see puddles of condensate on the floor, which simply should not be there

An increased level of humidity in the bathroom may be due to the circulation of excessively humid air entering this room from other rooms in the house/apartment.

Or due to the fact that the owner of a small apartment constantly dries clothes in the bathroom combined with a toilet. The same problem is observed if wet linen hangs in the kitchen, bordering the bathroom.

Whatever the reason causing the formation of condensate on the drain tank, it must be clearly identified and only then proceed to elimination. After a successful solution of the identified problem, the condensate will also go away.

Condensation cannot be removed

It is the owner of the bathroom who will have to decide where exactly to put the comma in this sentence. It all depends on the specific situation and the attitude of all household members to it.

First option. The toilet cistern fogs up a little, but between visits to the bathroom / toilet, everything has time to dry out. Here you can do without radical methods to solve the issue of removing condensate.

Slight fogging of surfaces is unable to lead to irreparable consequences and somehow seriously damage the exterior finish of the room.

Second option. If the drain tank is constantly wet, trickles of condensate now and then flow down to the floor and nothing has time to dry. Here the solution is unequivocal - it is necessary to fix the problem.

Drops flowing down the outer surface of the earthenware container form puddles that need to be wiped off every now and then. Sometimes the situation is quite deplorable - in a day a whole lake is formed in the bathroom. This not only causes inconvenience when visiting the premises, but also greatly unnerves.

Depending on the amount of escaping condensate, prudent owners use methods to eliminate this problem. Some put a towel, while others substitute all kinds of jars and saucers

Constant precipitation of condensate on the drain tank is not only troublesome at the current time, but also threatens with even greater problems in the coming years.

Firstly, drops of condensation may remain in small crevices and hard-to-reach areas. Over time, the water will stagnate and begin to smell unpleasant.

Secondly, the constant loss of condensate increases the level of humidity in the bathroom. Especially if it's combined. This situation will certainly provoke the growth and active reproduction of mold and fungus.

Mold spoils the appearance of any room. It adversely affects the body of people who constantly use the bathroom, provoking allergic reactions, headaches and other health problems.

Thirdly, the outer surface of the drain tank, being under the constant influence of water drops, will not last long - in the next 2-3 years a network of small cracks will appear, in which mold and fungus will also begin to form.

Fourth, due to high humidity, all wooden interior items in the toilet room or combined bathroom will begin to rot. Especially if it is a wooden floor, solid oak / beech parquet or other wood species.

Fifth, metal parts of furniture, water pipes and other items will begin to suffer from corrosion. Even a mirror can suffer - a whole colony of black mold will grow on its inside.

The mold that has settled on the mirror makes it impossible to use it further. You will need to buy a new one, and this is an additional expense item

As a result, the constant appearance of condensate will result not only in the deterioration of the microclimate in the bathroom, but also in the loss of working condition and loss of appearance in many interior items. After 5-6 years, a major overhaul of a combined bathroom or toilet may be required.

Methods for getting rid of condensate

The condensate found on the toilet bowl is not encouraging at all - the owners of the apartment / house immediately try to get rid of it by all possible methods. In the course are towels, jars, saucers and other items that do not belong next to the toilet. However, the formation of "dew" on the tank is much easier to prevent than to constantly collect and clean.

In the fight against drops settling on the tank, the following methods are used:

Image Gallery

The second option is to insulate the walls of the tank from the inside. For these purposes, tepofol, foamed polyethylene, polystyrene and other types of insulation are used. Depending on the type of material chosen, additional adhesive and sealant may be needed.

With improper installation of any type of ventilation system, condensation forms in the ventilation in a private house. This is fraught with serious consequences - wetting the walls, dampness in the house. Over time, mold fungi form, which destroys structures, makes surfaces visually unattractive and harms human health.

What causes condensation

Condensation is the formation of moisture on the inside of the pipe. Drops of water seep through numerous joints, as a result, walls and ceilings will be constantly wet. In winter, a gap may disappear in the pipe due to freezing of water, so there will be no air circulation in the ventilation duct. The reasons why ventilation flows in a private house are as follows:

lack of thermal insulation on ventilation pipes;
pipes were not properly insulated;
when installing ventilation, defective materials were purchased;
poor insulation of the floor and walls, frost;
the construction of the house was carried out on a damp foundation;
water in the basement of the house;
ventilation pipes clogged with debris over time;
malfunctions of the plumbing in the house;
temperature difference outside and inside the house;
incorrect installation of the hood.

The reasons can also be constant sources of evaporation - drying wet laundry in the house, features of the area where the house was built, for example, near a lake, a river. In any case, if dripping from the ventilation, then you need to take action.

How and where to properly insulate ventilation ducts

Pipe insulation is necessary in a place where there is a temperature drop. In a private house, this should be done starting from the ceiling of the last floor through the ceiling and attic, ending with access to the roof. The temperature of the wall of the ventilation duct changes and condensation forms. This zone is called the “dew point”, so it should be insulated.

Important! Supply ventilation requires a special approach. In order to avoid condensate, it may be necessary to insulate not only pipes, but also valves (in large rooms). It all depends on the length of the ventilation duct and the specifics of its installation.

In any case, insulation should begin with finding the "dew point", then an economic calculation is made, and the type of insulation is selected. In the latter case, you can choose the following materials:

expanded polystyrene;
mineral wool;
polypropylene foam;
foam polyethylene.

Materials that help to avoid condensation in ventilation are, in principle, inexpensive, have good thermal insulation, and also comply with fire safety requirements. When choosing thermal insulation, one should start from the length and diameter of the ventilation ducts.

Pipe insulation: priority work

The ventilation pipe is wiped dry.
The selected insulation is tightly wound around the problem area of the pipe and fixed.
Heaters, which are shaped like a pipe, are cut along the entire length on one side.
Then you should put it on so that all areas fit snugly, it is necessary to achieve complete tightness.
Only then the cut seam is glued with glue or tape.

Important! If the insulation does not fit snugly, then the condensate in the ventilation pipe will wet the insulation. This will lead not only to the formation of mold and the smell of dampness, but also to rust - soon the pipe will have to be changed.

Examples of insulation errors

Example #1

The bathroom is without windows, its size is 2 x 2.5 m. Ventilation is made in the form of a PVC exhaust pipe with a cross section of 110 mm. Through a wooden ceiling, the ventilation duct goes to the attic (with a length of 2.5 m), and then to the street. Moreover, the section of the ventilation pipe in the attic is insulated. Ventpipe in the bathroom with built-in fan with non-return valve. In winter, condensation begins to drip in the ventilation system. How to solve a problem?

It all comes down to improper insulation. It was necessary to correctly calculate the "dew point". Even if the pipe in the attic is insulated, it remains open in the ceiling, a temperature drop occurs and, as a result, condensation forms. Therefore, it is recommended, starting from the ceiling and ending with its exit to the street, to insulate it with heat-insulating materials. Some owners also insulate the outdoor part of the air ducts, which is also correct.

Example #2

In old buildings, the ventilation system is presented in the form of an asbestos pipe passing through the attic to the street. At sub-zero temperatures, you can find that dripping from the ventilation, and in some cases, water flows down in buckets. Many owners are wondering if insulation will help? After all, all the same, cold air cools down and turns into condensate.

In private houses, starting from the ceiling, wrap the pipe with insulation so that the thickness is 100 mm, a deflector should be installed at the end of the ventilation pipe. If the house is multi-storey, then asbestos-cement pipes, like galvanized ones, have a space between them that is not sealed. Therefore, cold air cools this area, forming condensate in the supply ventilation.

To fix the problem, it is necessary to make spacers, install formwork and pour cement. This method of dealing with condensate prevents cold wind masses from entering the ventilation. Air ducts in such houses are located in a brick pipe, it is necessary to examine it. If necessary, use a mortar to close the gaps between the bricks. Next, use a heater to wrap the duct. Such simple methods help to eliminate condensate in the ventilation.

Other Methods for Eliminating Condensation

Option 1

Perhaps the option with warming will not work for someone, so you can do it differently. The ventilation pipe that runs through the attic is disconnected. A tee with a conical plug is inserted at the separation point. It is in the place of the cone that the condensate will drain. The disconnected part of the ventilation pipe that goes outside should be installed in a tee. This method is called the removal of condensate from the exhaust ventilation ducts. It is not expensive and does not require much effort, the main thing is to correctly install the tee in the duct. Next, you need to insulate this structure, and instead of draining the condensate, you can mount a tube through which the condensate will flow out.

Important! At sub-zero temperatures, the condensate in the tube may freeze, so this method can be considered temporary, not solving the problem.

Example

The private house has 2 bathrooms, each of them equipped with exhaust fans in the ventilation ducts. For ventilation, metal pipes with a cross section of 125 mm were chosen. Ventilation pipes in a horizontal position pass through an unheated attic (the length of one pipe is 7.5 meters, the length of the other pipe is 9 meters), then they go outside. The pipes are insulated with mineral wool. In winter there is condensation, what should I do? Moreover, its quantity is very large, water flows out even through fans.

There are several options for solving the problem, the insulation of the pipe must be carried out completely, up to the last section facing the street. It is possible to mount the outlet of the ventilation pipe directly on the roof without horizontal sections, equipping it not with a duct fan, but with a turbo deflector. The last best option is to install a drain in a place where ventilation in a private house drips condensate, through which water will quietly drip, for example, into a sewer drain.

Option #2

A plug is made on the old ventilation and a new forced-type ventilation system is mounted. An exhaust fan is installed in the room where the most evaporation occurs. Often a mechanical device is mounted in a window pane. The supply of fresh air can be provided by a supply valve, which is installed near the battery or behind the gas boiler. Installing air inlets near heating equipment will warm the winter air and heat loss in the house will be minimal. Such an expensive option allows you to permanently remove condensate from the ventilation.

The correct approach to the insulation of ventilation pipes solves such problems - increasing the operation of ventilation ducts. Noise isolation during the passage of air masses. Reducing heat loss in winter. Condensate does not drip from the ventilation in a private house. Prevents the spread of fire when ignited.

To date, heaters in stores are presented in the form of cylinders, cords, half-cylinders. The diameter must also be selected individually. The thickness of the insulation is also different. It is advisable to approach the issue of warming ventilation ducts even at the stage of building a house.

Condensation can almost always be observed on cold water pipes. This phenomenon not only spoils the appearance of the bathroom to some extent, but can cause serious problems. Constantly wet tubular elements have a limited service life.

Therefore, such a problem should be solved very quickly. In this case, questions arise about what to do if drops of water are found on the pipeline and how to remove condensate from cold water pipes. First, there is no need to over-dramatize the situation. Secondly, you need to familiarize yourself with all the methods for eliminating this problem. Thirdly, choose the most optimal option and put it into practice.

Causes of condensation

Condensation on cold water pipes can appear for the following reasons:

The presence of a source of high humidity in the room.
Insufficient ventilation.
Water supply pipes have poor quality thermal insulation.
Temperature changes. For this reason, in the summer, a stronger formation of condensate can be observed, which simply flows down the surface of the pipes.

The main part of the reasons for the formation of condensate does not require explanation. As for the first item from the list, some clarifications are required.

Sources of high humidity include the following:

Problems arising in the process of functioning of communication systems and buildings. These can be steam from cooking, evaporation from wet laundry, a flooded basement, a pipe failure, and a vent clogged with debris.
Defects in the building resulting from a violation of construction technology.
Geographical features of the region: the proximity of large bodies of water or high levels of humidity in combination with rocky soil, which contributes to the formation of condensate.
Unfavorable natural phenomena: sleet, prolonged rains or humid climate of the area.

Prerequisites for the appearance of condensate on cold water pipes

In most cases, condensate appears on pipes located in bathrooms. Despite the specifics of these rooms, it is not only for this reason that the pipes become wet.

There are a number of factors that can cause condensation to form on the pipes in a toilet:

Insufficient ventilation. To determine that the condensate appears precisely because of this, it is enough to leave the doors to the toilet open at night. If the pipeline turns out to be dry in the morning, then you should repair the ventilation system and make it better.
Constant flow of water in the tank due to a malfunction of the valve. This leads to the fact that the pipeline begins to cool, resulting in a greater accumulation of condensate on its surface. A simple repair of the inlet valve and tank taps will help fix the problem.
Leak in the toilet of the neighbors living on the top floor. In this case, you need to inform the owners about the situation. In their absence, you can temporarily eliminate the condensate with your own hands. To do this, the section of the pipeline, on which the accumulation of water drops is found, is wrapped with a bandage in several layers and one end of the winding is lowered into a container, the accumulated water is regularly poured out. See also: "".

The accumulation of water on the cold water pipes in the bathroom can occur in the following situations:

Incorrect location of the water supply system. If the pipes of hot and cold water supply pass close enough to each other and do not have thermal insulation, then accumulation of water droplets is observed on the elements through which cold water flows. The way out of this situation is to ensure high-quality thermal insulation of pipe elements using suitable materials.
Mixer failure. If water constantly drips from the tap, the overall temperature of the working medium decreases, which leads to cooling of the pipes and the formation of condensate on their surface. Repairing the mixer will help solve the problem.

How to remove condensate, how to wrap pipes

For those who have encountered such a phenomenon, the question immediately arises of how to wrap the pipe so that there is no condensate. There are several ways to prevent the appearance of water droplets on the surface of cold water supply pipes, one of which is thermal insulation. This option is considered the most effective, as it eliminates the cause of their appearance - a temperature drop. The easiest and fastest way to resolve the issue is by means of an insulating tube, cutting it lengthwise for convenient placement. For the manufacture of the tube, polyethylene foam, energy flex or thermoflex is used.

There is another way to deal with condensate on tubular elements, but it is considered more complicated. Using this option requires the following materials: epoxy putty, acetone, rust remover, sanding paper, spatula, nylon thread and strips of fabric about 5 cm wide.

The process looks like this:

The pipe is cleaned with sanding paper to improve surface adhesion.
Degrease the skinned area with acetone.
The surface is treated with a rust remover and allowed to dry (read also: "").
A thick epoxy putty is applied to the pipe and wrapped with strips of fabric. The edges are fixed with a thread.
Another layer of putty is applied on top and again wrapped with a cloth.
Cover the fabric with putty and leave to dry completely.
After all layers have dried, the pipe is sanded and painted.

In the case when water drops appear as a result of a malfunction of the plastic pipeline, you can independently replace the damaged section of the pipeline with a new elbow. Metal pipelines can only be replaced by plumbers with special equipment and skills.

To prevent condensation on plastic cold water pipes, the following types of insulating materials are recommended:

Styrofoam or expanded polystyrene is considered a universal insulation for pipelines made of polymeric materials. It comes in the form of a shell, consisting of two halves. They are connected to each other by means of a tongue-and-groove lock. The use of such insulation is quite simple: the shell halves are put on the pipe and fixed with adhesive tape.
Mineral wool for pipeline insulation is produced in rolls, which greatly simplifies the use of this material.
Polyurethane foam refers to heaters with high insulating characteristics. The temperature range of such a material is quite wide, from -160 0 С to +150 0 С. Almost all polypropylene pipes have such a layer, it is formed on products during the production process. In this case, the thickness of the insulation reaches 5 cm.

Chemical elements that help get rid of condensate

Products of the chemical industry help to protect cold water supply pipes from condensate formation: Stermizol, Korund, Teplomett and others.

The use of these insulating compounds implies the following actions:

The pipe is cleaned of dirt and rust.
Apply a layer of primer for better adhesion of the insulation to the surface and leave to dry.
Using a roller, brush or spray, cover the surface with a protective mixture. The most effective is the application of 5 layers of insulation, and each layer must dry well before the next application. The optimal drying time for such mixtures is about 1 hour.
A special fixer helps to extend the service life of a heat-insulated pipeline, which in parallel will make the pipes more attractive.

Which method to use to deal with condensate on cold water pipes depends on the reasons for the formation of this phenomenon and the specific operating conditions. It is very important to consider how often the problem occurs, as well as at what stage it is.

Condensate drain - condensate trap

To remove the formed condensate in automatic mode, a float-operated condensate trap is used. This device is installed at the outlet of the apparatus that provides heat exchange, including water heaters and heaters. Through such a technical device, the water accumulated in the system simply evaporates.

Steam traps fall into three main groups:

Combined devices.
thermostatic.
Float.

The operation of float type steam traps is based on the use of the difference between the density of condensate and steam. These devices are very popular due to the large number of positive characteristics.

The main advantages of this type of device are the following:

High degree of reliability.
Excellent performance figures.
Possibility of work at the minimum loadings.
No need for condensate cooling.
Resistant to sudden temperature changes.
Uninterrupted operation under increased loads.

It is also impossible not to note the optimal energy saving indicators of thermal systems with float-type steam traps.

To deal with condensate, you can choose any of the following methods. In most cases, their use helps to eliminate unwanted moisture. If these options are not effective enough, it is possible to get rid of the formation of condensate on cold water pipes by waterproofing all surfaces of the room. High-quality performance of this type of work is possible only with special knowledge and skills.

Condensation forming on the pipeline is a common occurrence. In this regard, it is worthwhile to understand what such a situation could threaten. If you think that a steamy pipe only makes your home unattractive, then you are seriously mistaken. There may be certain problems that require urgent attention to eliminate the possibility of more serious problems. In any case, you should understand what is the reason for this situation and how to solve it.

Mostly fogging is observed on pipes with cold water, which also applies to adjacent plumbing fittings. Much less often, drops appear on the surface of cylindrical products for the disposal of sewage. On pipelines of heating and hot water supply, condensate is completely absent.

The appearance of moisture on the pipes in the apartment is similar to how dew forms on the grass. The air in the room is usually warm, and the cylindrical structures are cold, so when one comes into contact with the other, moisture falls out of the air, which is condensate. For this to be realized in practice, certain conditions must be present: a temperature difference and a specific humidity parameter.

Moisture can form when the so-called dew point is reached, when the surface temperature reaches its maximum values. More detailed information on this subject can be obtained through a special table.

So, at an air temperature of 22 ° C and a humidity parameter of 70%, condensate appears on the pipes if the surface temperature differs from the corresponding ambient value by 6 ° C, that is, it is 16 ° C. If the temperature exceeds the mentioned value, condensation will not occur.

Drops are formed mainly in the cold season if the liquid is taken from open sources, for example, from rivers, since the water in them is characterized by a large temperature difference depending on the season: about 5 ° C in winter and about 14 ° C in summer. If the liquid enters the pipe system from an artesian well, such a dependence is not traced, however, this fact leads to the fact that condensate may also occur in the summer.

The so-called fogging of pipes provokes their rapid wear due to the appearance of rust. The formation of moisture on cylindrical structures contributes to the development of mold and fungus, leads to damage to the finish of the room and flooding of neighbors from below if the amount of condensate becomes prohibitive.

What else contributes to the appearance of moisture on the pipes

Solutions

Condensation is not a problem per se. It is easy to get rid of it, having understood the causes of this trouble. The temperature difference causes the formation of moisture on the surface of the pipeline, therefore it is necessary to establish a barrier between cold products and humid air in the room. To achieve this goal, thermal insulation is used.

As a heat-insulating material, it is preferable to use foamed polyethylene, which has the following properties:

does not rot;
does not absorb moisture;
differs in high characteristics of thermal insulation.

It is recommended to use foamed polyethylene, presented in the form of a tube. This type of product is convenient in terms of application, since its internal diameter corresponds to the cross section of standard plumbing cylindrical products.

The optimal solution is to place a heat-insulating tube during the installation of the water supply system. In this case, the best tightness is provided, but this is rarely possible.

Basically, it is necessary to isolate the already assembled structure, which is done by cutting the polyethylene foam tube along the length and putting it on cylindrical products, followed by fastening with plastic ties or plumbing tape.

To ensure tightness, due attention must be paid to the top and bottom of the pipe, otherwise you can get the effect that is inherent in the chimney. If it is not possible to reach some sections of the water supply, it is recommended to use mounting foam.

What materials are suitable for removing condensate

In addition to foamed polyethylene, as mentioned above, the use of polyurethane foam is available. But also for these purposes, a corrugation that has a larger diameter compared to the pipe, in relation to which work is carried out to prevent the formation of condensate, is quite suitable. To put this into practice, you will need to cut the material into the appropriate parts and wrap the pipes with them, filling the annular space with mounting foam.

Condensation in the bathroom

Having found a leak in the riser, you should contact your neighbors: perhaps they have problems with plumbing in their apartment. If moisture has formed on a pipe that is connected to a bathtub or sink, then the first step is to check the serviceability of the faucets, while it is desirable to insulate the pipes. Poor ventilation can also lead to condensation in the bathroom, so you need to make sure it works.

You can also resort to the use of special chemicals in the form of the same "Grafoterm". It will be possible to get rid of condensate if dry structures are rubbed with this substance. However, it should be noted that the effect will be temporary.

Condensate on the gas pipe

A cylindrical product coming from a gas boiler always has traces of drops. It will not be possible to completely get rid of this phenomenon, however, it is possible to significantly reduce the amount of moisture on the pipe walls. This is achieved by insulating the structure, focusing on its upper part, which reduces the cooling rate.

To prevent condensation from forming inside the product, it is advisable to use sandwich pipes in which the outer walls act as a heat-insulating barrier.

Condensation in the toilet

Misting can also occur on the pipes in the restroom, which is associated with the appearance of steam in the air or a temperature difference. Settling of water droplets on cylindrical products is a problem that may be due to insufficient ventilation. To understand how true this statement is, you should open the door to the toilet and leave it in that position overnight. If the pipes are dry by morning, then the duct is not coping with its tasks.

Another reason for moisture condensation may well lie in a tank malfunction. Its flow leads to a continuous flow of cold liquid into the sewer drain pipe, which explains the formation of moisture on its surface. This can be avoided by restoring the normal functioning of the reservoir outlet valve.

Why is a wet pipe dangerous?

Condensation on cylindrical structures helps to reduce the life of the pipeline, since such an environment provokes metal corrosion. High humidity in the room is not only the smell of dampness, but also the appearance of fungi and mold, which can adversely affect the health of residents. Finally, abundant condensate causes serious smudges and puddles, and this inevitably brings the repair time closer, which implies an unplanned expenditure of funds.