Peeling Paint From Pipe

Platinum8

I have a customer that has a steam heating system with radiators in their home. The pipe running from the first floor to the second is about an inch from the wall and obliviously goes thru the ceiling. The paint around the pipe in the cieling and on the wall which, like I said is about an inch away is peeling like crazy. Now I know the prob is the pipe is sweating and condesation I just don't know how to stop the pipe from doing so. I don't want to just fix the paint and get a call back in a few months or so. Will pipe insulation be a fix or is there anything else you guys have come across that could solve it? Thanks in advance!

Bender

Is the condensation coming from the space where the floor joists are? I'm guessing the pipe is next to an exterior wall? Is it colder in there, i.e. drafts? That would be hard to stop.

Aframe

It is unlikely the pipe "sweating" unless you are pumping cold steam through it.

If there is a radiator on the floor above the valve may be leaking. Check the flooring for signs of water. Since it will happen when the pressure has built up a little,run the heat for a bit, or put some paper towels under the valve to see if it is the problem.

If there is no water around it may just be the heat reacting with the plaster/board. You could clear away some of the plaster from the pipe to allow you to slide some pipe wrap up into the ceiling/floor. Most exposed pipe installations will have an escutcheon to cover the gap around the pipe.

Platinum8

yah it is on an exterior wall. I'm not sure if there is a radiator directly above. I will have to check when I go back there. It gets pretty cold in there when the guy leaves for work thats when i saw the pipe condensating. Thanks guys