Sweaty Pump

Ive never heard of an insulating "paint",I think you would be hard pressed to achieve the insulating properties needed through a few microns.

I would use Plenty of tightly fitting foam insulating sheet glued to the pump body (when dry).

Is it a close coupled motor/pump?

Have a sheet metal cocoon made that looks like an "n" when viewed from the open end. Make it large enough to be sprayed inside and out with insulating foam. Fabricate the flat, insulated ends, with electrical, shaft and pipe openings.

You might even feed it with dried air now that you have it enclosed.

The pump motor, is a different matter.

There are a number of spray foam insulations available at refrigeration supplies in the USA. they are designed to stop unwanted condensation on things hard to insulate by other means. Hilti makes a very good one, but is a bit expensive going in because you have to buy their applicator gun. The Hilti product comes out 90% expanded and is thus much easier to handle and less messy. Also it will stick to moist surfaces. Most of the ones at the refrigeration supply are self contained, similar to the hardware store "Great Stuff" brand. -- JHF

This spray on is your best alternative.

but it may also cause a problem. you no longer can see the pump itself. and when it comes to moisture, it will go where it wantsand there is not much you can doabout it.

this being said I'd worry about water being trapped under the new insulation and causng corrosion problems?

have you tried maybe adding a fan? or direct the heat frm the motor via a shroud so it blows across the pump thus keeping the lower temp moist air away?

Hi flash ~

NACE (National Association of Corrosion Engineers Int'l), in their Coatings Inspector Program, teach [among lots of other things] the difference between paints, coatings, and linings... (aside from the gag that the primary difference is about $30/gal)

There certainly ARE products that will do the job for you. They just won't be a "simple paint"... such products are intended for aesthetic / cosmetic uses only.

Try looking at Mascoat products ... and go from there.

Wishing you success.

There are two manufactures that I use for insulation purposes in this application.

The trade names are Rubatex and Armaflex. Local HVAC companies will carry at least one of them. It is a closed cell neoprene foam insulation. You can buy it in sheet form, and cut it to fit. The glue used for this is a contact cement.

If you insulate the pump the condensed water will find its way into the motor and bad things will happen. If you are pumping chilled water in a hot humid place you will have to dry the surrounding air with a dehumidfier to stop the condensation process.

Hi Flashlight,

Your problem is a common one, and I have come across it on many occasions, the solutions given in the other replies are quite valid. However, I would add the caveats as listed here. Firstly, there do exist some True Insulating Coatings, these are not simple 'paints', but are fairly easily applied. They generally contain hollow Boro-Silicate micro beads, I can suggest you look at a company located in Scotland, called Chemco International, I have specified and used their product successfully in the past. Secondly, the recommendation that you apply a robust anticorrosion coating and insulate with closed cell Nitrile Rubber is also valid, however, I wouldnt recommend gluing the Nitrile Rubber directly to the pump body, for future maintenance reasons. Rather that you fabricate a cover for the pump, and glue the NR directly to that, designing the cover to be removable for maintenance.

In my own experience, the electric motor doesnt require any insulation, as it generates sufficient heat during operation that it doesnt 'sweat', or have any condensation forming on the surface. Generally you will find that it will always operate above the Dew Point, any water found on the surface is most likely droplets that have dripped onto it from the chilled water pipework, especially if it is not insulated, or the insulation is insufficient for the operating condition, or damaged in some way

Hope this helps.

You didn't state the physical size of the pump, so the practicality of this method is left to your discretion.

Wrap the pump in Saran wrap. Use the good stuff. It works the best. Around the pump, build a housing spaced an inch or more from the pump surface using makeshift standoffs all constructed from manila folder type card stock. Close off the bottom. Duct tape will do. Shoot household type insulation foam into the cavity or pour in a batch of bouyancy foam available at a boat supply. When it is set, slit the jacket at appropriate places to remove it for pump maintenance when necessary.