| InspectAPedia® |
InspectAPedia
| |
Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair | Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia |
|
InspectAPedia ® Home PLUMBING SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR AGE of PLUMBING MATERIALS & FIXTURES AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES ANTI SCALD VALVES ANODES & DIP TUBES on WATER HEATERS BACKUP PREVENTION, SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION, SEWER LINE BACKWATER VALVES, SEWER LINE BATH & KITCHEN DESIGN GUIDE BLEVE EXPLOSIONS CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS in WATER CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER CISTERNS DEBRIS in WATER SUPPLY, Water Heater DEPTH of SEPTIC TANK DRAIN & SEWER PIPING FAUCETS & CONTROLS, KITCHEN & BATH FAUCETS, OUTDOOR HOSE BIBBS FILTERS, WATER FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOOR DRAIN / TRAP ODORS FLUSHOMETER VALVES for TOILETS URINALS FREEZE-PROOF PIPES GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION HARD WATER - SOFTENERS HEAT TAPES, Heat, Insulation prevent Freeze-Up LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEAD IN DRINKING WATER, HOW to REDUCE METHANE GAS SOURCES MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES MUNICIPAL WATER PRESSURE IMPROVEMENTS NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS IN WATER ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER ODORS SEWER GAS in COLD WEATHER ODORS, SULPHUR SMELL SOURCES ODORS, URINE REMOVAL PIPING IN BUILDINGS, Clogs Leaks Types PLUMBING FIXTURES, KITCHEN, BATH PLUMBING NOISE CONTROL PLUMBING VENT DEFINITIONS & CODES PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES PUMPS, WATER REPAIR RELIEF VALVE LEAKS RELIEF VALVES - TP Valves on Boilers RELIEF VALVES - STEAM TP VALVES RELIEF VALVES - Water Heaters RELIEF VALVES - Water Tanks REPAIR BURST LEAKY PIPES SEPTIC METHANE GAS SEPTIC ODORS SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR WATER HEATERS WATER, WELLS, WATER TANKS: TESTING GUIDE WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR WATER PUMPS & TANKS WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WATER SOURCE ALTERNATIVES WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING WATER SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE WATER SHUTOFF VALVE, WELL PUMP WATER TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS WINTERIZE A BUILDING More Information |
Condensation on plumbing pipes, tanks, toilets: here we explain the causes, significance, and cures for condensation or "sweating" on plumbing system components like pipes, water tanks, and toilets. A certain amount of moisture condensation on building plumbing systems is normal in areas of warm humid weather and cold or chilly incoming water supply. But as we explain here, excessive condensation on plumbing systems can cause costly problems in buildings. The articles at this website will answer most questions about plumbing drain, waste, vent, water supply & septic systems. Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman. What is Sweating or Condensation on Plumbing Pipes, Tanks, Toilets
Our sweating toilet tank photo (left) illustrates where condensation may form on the tank of a toilet that is in frequent use during hot humid weather, or on a toilet whose flush valve leaks, allowing the toilet to "run" continuously. Condensation, the collection of airborne moisture on cool surfaces can happen anywhere in the plumbing system where components are cooler than surrounding, moist air. Common places where we see condensation or "sweating" include toilet tanks, cold water pipes, and water storage or water pressure tanks. Carson Dunlop Associates in their Home Reference Book point out that in some homes, the cold water piping is insulated to avoid sweating of pipes.
Our photo (left) shows a close-up of condensation on the exterior of a steel water pressure tank.. This ‘sweating’ can be annoying, and if allowed to continue, can damage ceilings, floors, furniture or storage below. Condensation that drips off of these locations can even lead to building rot, insect attack, or to the need for a costly mold cleanup job. So Do Water Pipes Actually "Sweat" in buildings?No. Pipes and tanks don't literally "sweat". "Water pipes do not "sweat" as people say - water is not exuding out of pores in the pipe. Water is condensing from moist air onto the surface of the cold water pipe. Insulate your cold water pipes to avoid condensation and drips onto the floor. What people popularly refer to as "sweating pipes" really is airborne moisture that is condensing out of humid air onto a cool pipe, tank, or other surface. Where Does Condensation Occur on Plumbing Systems?
Our photo (left) illustrates that "sweating" cold water pipes can be a serious hazard. These cold water pipes are dripping condensate (red arrow at left) right into the electrical panel (down-pointing red arrow at left), risking corrosion of the circuit breakers and other electrical components. Corrosion can lead to failure of a breaker to trip in event of an over-current. So water pipe condensation could actually contribute to a building fire! Details are at CORROSION in ELECTRICAL PANELS.
What Causes Condensation on Plumbing System Components like Pipes, Tanks, Toilets?Why does water condense on your cold water pipes overhead in the basement before it condenses on the steel Lally columns supporting your main girder? It's because the cold water pipe surfaces are colder than the Lally column surfaces exposed to the same moisture-laden air. When cold water (at 40 deg.F.) is running through the water pipe, the pipe surface is cooled to a lower temperature (40 deg.F.) than that of the Lally column (perhaps 55 deg.F. or higher in a typical residential building basement). When the temperature of air reaches the dew point (a function of the combination of a particular air temperature and the amount of moisture in the air), moisture condenses out of the air onto nearby cooler surfaces. See DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE for more details.
[Note: Another definition of "sweating pipes" is used by plumbers to refer to the process of soldering copper plumbing joints.] What is the Significance of Condensation for Diagnosing Building Conditions?Condensation May Indicate Plumbing Leaks or Private Well Piping Problems
If the cold water pipes in your building are wet with condensation even though you think no water has been running for hours, there may be a hidden plumbing leak. A great time to check for this condition is on first arising in the morning, before plumbing fixtures have been used. Our photograph of stains on an interior wall (left) is an example of indoor stains caused by moisture on building plumbing pipes. Private well piping or well problems: intermittent cycling of a well pump when no water is being run is often a sign of either a running plumbing fixture in the building, or a leak in the well piping itself. If you see condensation on water piping entering the water pressure tank and hear intermittent well pump cycling for no apparent reason, further investigation is warranted. See INTERMITTENT CYCLING WATER PUMPS and WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS. Indoor stains in ceilings or walls, flooring damage, and even hidden mold are all problems that can be caused by hidden plumbing leaks or by condensation on cold water piping where it passes through building cavities. How to Cure Condensation or Sweating on Plumbing Pipes, Tanks, ToiletsInsulate Cold Water Piping
Carson Dunlop suggest that if a basement is to be finished, the cold water piping above the ceiling should be insulated. Foam insulating tubes that snap around plumbing piping are widely available and work very nicely for this purpose. We advise against wrapping pipes in fiberglass insulation. Insulate the Water Pressure Tank?Where a water pressure tank is located in a finished basement or similar area, having puddles of condensate on the floor around the water tank can be a problem. If you have made sure that there are no plumbing leaks or well pump short cycling problems that are keeping the water tank cold and subject to condensation too much of the time, insulating the water tank with an insulation blanket may be helpful. Watch out: we have inspected properties where the water pressure tank was located in a finished basement, enclosed in a closet, and surrounded with fiberglass insulation. Wetting fiberglass insulation is inviting a hidden mold contamination problem. Insulating such "closets" with solid foam insulation may be a more mold-resistant approach. See INSULATION MOLD for details. Insulate Toilet Tanks?Some toilet models currently sold include an insulated toilet tank and may be appropriate if you live in an area where weather is hot and humid for much of the year, as toilet tank condensation can be a problem even if the toilet is not leaky or running. But before going to the cost and trouble of changing out a toilet tank or trying to insulate the exterior of the tank, make triple sure that your toilet is not leaky and running. Fix Plumbing LeaksFind and fix running toilets, hidden plumbing leaks, well piping problems or municipal water piping problems that we listed earlier. Use a Dehumidifier, Add Heat, Increase Air CirculationOur preferred method for reducing condensation on plumbing pipes, tanks, toilets indoors is to reduce the level of indoor humidity to an appropriate level using either a local portable dehumidifier, or the building's central air conditioning system. See HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET for details. In some circumstances increasing the air circulation around a condensation-prone water tank can reduce the total quantity of condensation, at least if the condensation is from normal use and not from a plumbing leak. In some commercial installations and in a few private homes where condensation people add heat where spot condensation is a particular problem. More Cures Sweating (Condensation) Problems on ToiletsAs noted in Chapter 6 of Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)... Ask a Question or Search InspectApediaUse the search box below to ask a question or to search the InspectApedia.com website. Ask a Question or Enter Search Terms in the InspectApedia search box just below. Technical Reviewers & ReferencesRelated Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
| ||||||