Express Plumbing Heating & Airg Blog

Every profession has terms that people outside the trade may find silly. From inside the plumbing trade, I imagine that is how people must feel when they hear the term “pipe sweating”. Because, how the heck can a pipe sweat? Are they doing calisthenics in the walls? While it is true your pipes are probably not feeling the burn to a workout tape, there are situations in which a pipe will appear to sweat.

“Pipe sweating” refers to the instance where a pipe has condensation or water dripping off of it and no leak is present. This most often occurs because the water inside the pipe is colder than the air surrounding it. This situation is not exclusive to warmer times of the year. This could also happen when we are heating our houses and using cold water. Don’t worry. The water is not leaking in any way from inside your pipes. It is just condensation dripping from the pipes that could cause structural damage to your home over time.

So, what can you do? There are measures you can take to prevent damage from pipe sweating. First and foremost, you can insulate your pipes. This is wise to do in colder climates anyways, so you may be getting two birds with one stone. Pipe insulation can be easily found in most plumbing supply stores. You can also try pudding a dehumidifier in the area you are noticing pipe sweating. This will pull the moisture from the air and help prevent damage.

You should always be very sure what you have going on is not a leak. If you are unable to tell where the moisture is coming from, give Express Plumbing Heating & Air a call. Our qualified technicians will be able to tell you whether you have pipe sweating or a more serious issue. We will help you keep your home healthy and happy!

Brad Jordan

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