How to insulate a sewer pipe

When organizing a sewage system in a private house, it is necessary to think not only about its location, but also about insulation, otherwise the sewer tap will be paralyzed at low temperatures. In this article you will find information on how to warm the sewer pipe.

In what cases you need insulation

Whether it is necessary to warm the sewage pipes laid in the ground is determined depending on the frequency of use of a private house for housing.

If you plan to visit a country house only in the summer, it is not necessary to warm the pipes outside. Before leaving a private house, all the water from the system is drained, and it is left in this state until spring, until the new summer season.

If you intend to live in a country house all year round, it is imperative that you warm the sewer system out of the house and passing through the site. Without insulation, water can freeze directly in the pipes, which will lead to their deformation and failure of the entire sewer system as a whole.

Tip! If the sewer system, located outside the house, has turns, or laid almost on the surface, the insulation will protect and significantly strengthen the entire system.

Ways of warming

There are several ways that you can make the insulation of sewage pipes with their own hands. I must say that the insulation is made at the stage of arrangement of the external sewer system.

1. The location of the sewer pipe below freezing. In each locality the level of soil freezing is different. Usually its value ranges from 90 to 150 cm.
2. The use of insulation of various types.
3. The use of heating electrical cables.
4. The use of foam insulation shells for sewage in the ground.

Each of the methods of insulation has its own advantages and disadvantages. The choice of one or another option depends on the material capabilities of the site owner, as well as the amount of effort that will have to be spent on insulation.

The location of sewer pipes below freezing

This is one of the most affordable ways to insulate a sewage system located outside a private house. All that is required is to find out the depth of freezing in the area and remove the sewage system from the house at the required depth below the ground level.

To organize an outlet system with such insulation, it is necessary to prepare trenches with a sand and gravel pad in which pipes are to be laid. However, their arrangement may be of a certain complexity, both because of the very large depth at which the pipes will run, and because of the features of the relief on the site.

The use of insulation of various types

When using ready-made materials for insulation, the trench depth may be less than the level of freezing. What kind of insulation is the most preferred option?

Today in the construction market you can see the following options:

• Styrofoam: it is a material characterized by high rigidity and representing an alloy of granules.

• Polyfoam: the material consisting of granules with high resistance to moisture. At high temperature, the granules are firmly connected to each other, forming a single layer of material.

• Extruded polystyrene foam: differs from conventional polystyrene foam in resistance to heavy loads and moisture.

• Polyurethane: lightweight and durable material with high thermal insulation qualities. Easy to use.
• Glass wool: is a good insulation, but requires additional use of an insulator.

Use of electrical cables

Excellent result gives the insulation of sewer pipes with an electrical cable. Regardless of the weather, as well as the depth of freezing, this method allows you to use the sewer system in any conditions.

The main requirement is the availability of electricity. Accordingly, when using this method of insulation, it is necessary to organize a source of autonomous power supply in a private house, so as not to be dependent on periodic power outages.

Use of foam pipe

Foam pipes or so-called foam shells began to be used not so long ago. They are good because they can withstand both extremely low and very high temperatures, have different diameters, allowing them to be used for both private and industrial sites. Foam pipes are equipped with convenient fasteners to make the most reliable connection. Such locks have high strength properties and prevent the penetration of cold into the foam shell.

Combination of various options of warming

When insulating sewer pipes, the best results are achieved when combining different methods. For example, insulation is often encountered by arranging a trench below the depth of soil freezing using different insulators laid around sewer pipes. This combination of methods of insulation allows you to reliably protect the exhaust system from both temperature extremes and severe frosts.