Insulation, heating systems, and energy efficiency are often considered when it comes to maintaining a warm and comfortable home environment. However, have you ever thought about how your pipes fit into this equation? More specifically, is there a need for an oxygen barrier in those pipes? The answer to this question may not immediately occur to you, but it could have a big impact on the longevity and effectiveness of your heating system.
Let’s start by defining what an oxygen barrier in pipes is. In essence, it’s a coating or layer inside the pipe that keeps oxygen from leaking through it and interacting with the water that’s flowing inside. You may be asking yourself, what makes oxygen a problem in the first place. Well, corrosion can occur when oxygen combines with some metals, such as steel or iron. In addition to causing damage to the pipes, this corrosion can cause sediment buildup and decreased heating system efficiency.
Thus, the crucial query still stands: are oxygen barriers in pipes truly necessary? Like many things in home improvement, the answer isn’t always a simple yes or no. The kind of heating system you have and the materials used in your pipes will determine this in large part. For example, an oxygen barrier may not always be necessary if your system uses radiant floor heating or if the pipes are composed of plastic or copper.
However, the importance of adding an oxygen barrier increases significantly if your boiler system is a traditional one with steel or iron pipes. If you don’t have it, you might be putting yourself at risk for corrosion problems in the future, which would require expensive repairs and reduced performance. In these situations, you can safeguard your system and increase its lifespan by purchasing pipes with integrated oxygen barriers or by installing a separate barrier at the time of installation.
Ultimately, it is best to carefully consider your unique heating setup and long-term goals when deciding whether or not an oxygen barrier is necessary in your pipes. Even though it might seem like a small matter, failing to provide adequate barrier protection and pipe insulation can have a big impact on your home’s efficiency and comfort. Therefore, make sure you’re making the best decision for your house before starting your next heating project by taking the time to evaluate your needs and, if needed, consulting with professionals.
- What is an oxygen barrier?
- Why you need a diffusion barrier?
- What will happen if I install heating with a pipe without a barrier??
- Building Regulations requiring an oxygen barrier
- What the manufacturers say?
- Oxygen permeability. Myth or fact?
- Video on the topic
- Check the quality of a pipe at home. There is no oxygen barrier evoh (evoh) in the pipe!
- ▶️ The problem of oxygen penetration and mistakes in the selection of heating system pipes
- Oxygen permeability of pipes one year later
- Why do you need an oxygen barrier in pipes? ? Eugene Shayev will tell you.
- IS Oxygen Barrier IMPORTANT?? Oxygen barrier pipe / Underfloor heating oxygen barrier pipe
- Pipes don"t need an oxygen barrier. Don"t waste your money!
- IS AN OXYGEN BARRIER NEEDED IN UNDERFLOOR HEATING PIPES?
What is an oxygen barrier?
A unique coating called an oxygen barrier, also known as a diffusion barrier, is applied to thermoplastic pipes to stop oxygen from entering the pipe and entering the heating system. This layer is shown in PPR pipes as fiberglass or aluminum foil; the same foil is used in metal-plastic pipes. A thin layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol is used in cross-linked polyethylene pipes. EVOH is the label on these pipes.
Why you need a diffusion barrier?
Does an oxygen barrier really need to be there? Manufacturers claim that oxygen tends to react with anything it comes into contact with right away. Metals are the first object it encounters on its route. After the reaction, the system starts to accumulate sludge and magnetite forms. The heating system and the equipment’s lifespan are negatively impacted by each of these factors. What other details exist?
- Even with an air vent, it is not fully capable of ridding the heating system of airborne suspended solids
- Mesh filters are also not able to contain all the sludge. Therefore, it is still present in the heating system
- Magnetites have the properties of magnets and are happy to settle on metallic compounds
In his video, Alexander Makeev did a pretty good job of presenting his points. Take a look at it below:
In the realm of heating and insulating your home, the debate over whether an oxygen barrier is necessary in pipes is a crucial consideration. The primary thesis here is that while oxygen barriers can be beneficial in certain situations, they"re not universally required. Oxygen can cause corrosion in metal pipes, potentially leading to leaks and damage over time. However, if you"re using plastic pipes like PEX, they"re naturally resistant to corrosion, making oxygen barriers less essential. Factors like the type of heating system, water quality, and installation environment also play a role in determining the necessity of an oxygen barrier. Ultimately, it"s wise to consult with professionals to assess your specific needs and make an informed decision about whether to incorporate an oxygen barrier into your home"s piping system.
What will happen if I install heating with a pipe without a barrier??
This installation has provided us with this experience. The company that sold us the pipes made the decision to turn a profit and started offering pipes without any restrictions. Before we noticed the issue, we installed these pipes in two different facilities.
The objects are still functioning flawlessly after four years. However, that might be a rather short period of time. Furthermore, we were unable to locate any particular instances that would have demonstrated the effects of the pipes’ lack of an oxygen barrier.
It’s critical to understand that the problem is real and does not simply disappear. Therefore, review the arguments below.
Building Regulations requiring an oxygen barrier
Regarding heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, there is a building code. It makes it very clear that heating systems that use metal elements and polymer pipes need to have a diffusion barrier, also known as an oxygen barrier.
Here’s a thorough extract:
What the manufacturers say?
This is a really intriguing circumstance. With many manufacturers, taking the equipment out of warranty is a great idea if there is going to be a missing barrier. And it’s likely the best justification for using oxygen barrier pipes.
Vogel & Noot wrote this (steel panel radiators).
And this is the Viessmann Vitopend boiler’s passport.
Oxygen permeability. Myth or fact?
Many artisans think that the diffusion barrier is just a marketing gimmick. And the arguments that are being put forth are as follows:
- The pressure in the pipe is higher than the atmospheric pressure. Therefore, oxygen ingress is excluded by all laws of physics
- Even if oxygen gets in, it is such a negligible amount that it will not affect the performance of the system in any way. And the air vent will always release the excess air.
- The appearance of corrosion is also exaggerated. In any case, it is impossible to get rid of oxygen in the system for sure. Therefore, natural corrosion processes are inevitable.
- It"s all simple marketing designed to make a big deal out of nothing in order to create additional demand.
However, the oxygen barrier found in pipes actually helps to cut down on the amount of oxygen that enters the heating system. Numerous tests are available, and their results are readily accessible online.
In this instance, oxygen ingress is also caused by the laws of partial pressure. Additionally, they differ from other laws. Typically, a fruit basket submerged in water is used as an example. Water seeps through the fruit’s wall no matter how hard it presses against it. The same holds true for oxygen.
| Yes | No |
| An oxygen barrier prevents oxygen from entering the pipes, which can corrode the system over time. | If your heating system doesn"t use materials that are sensitive to corrosion from oxygen, you may not need an oxygen barrier. |
It’s crucial to take a few things into account when debating whether or not heating system pipes need to have an oxygen barrier. First of all, it’s important to comprehend how oxygen functions in heating systems. Oxygen can cause corrosion in pipes and other parts of the system, which could result in damage and shorten its lifespan.
An oxygen barrier is essential for systems that use materials that are prone to corrosion, such as ferrous metals like brass, copper, or steel. By keeping oxygen from entering the system, this barrier lowers the chance of corrosion and increases the system’s longevity.
On the other hand, an oxygen barrier might not be as important for systems made of less corrosive materials like stainless steel or PEX (cross-linked polyethylene). These materials have a higher natural resistance to corrosion, which reduces the need for extra safeguards.
The heating system’s intended use and specific requirements are another factor to take into account. For instance, the presence of oxygen can cause problems like air pockets and decreased heat transfer efficiency in hydronic heating systems where water is the heat transfer medium. Under such circumstances, maintaining an oxygen barrier becomes more crucial for preserving system performance.
In conclusion, even though the necessity of an oxygen barrier in heating system pipes may differ based on elements like the materials utilized and the particular needs of the system, it is typically advised for systems that use materials that are prone to corrosion or where peak performance is critical. These barriers help reduce the risk of corrosion by preventing oxygen ingress, preserving the heating system’s longevity and effectiveness.
