Why insulate chilled water pipes?

• A. To increase velocity
• B. To prevent condensation
• C. To reduce noise
• D. To maintain pressure

Answer: (B)

Insulating chilled water pipes prevents condensation on the pipe surface. When a pipe carrying cold water sits in warm, humid air, its surface can drop below the air’s dew point, causing moisture in the air to condense as droplets on the pipe. This sweating can lead to water damage, mold growth, and corrosion over time. Insulation slows heat transfer from the surroundings to the cold pipe, so the surface stays warmer and above the dew point, keeping moisture from forming.

Energy efficiency is another benefit, because reducing heat gain means the chiller doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the desired temperature. The other ideas don’t address the root issue: increasing flow velocity depends on pump and piping design, not insulation; insulation isn’t primarily used to reduce noise, and it doesn’t determine system pressure, which is set by pumps and pipe losses.