Why do plastic pipes sweat? How to remove condensate from cold water pipes and prevent its appearance

Condensation can almost always be observed on cold water pipes. This phenomenon not only spoils to some extent appearance bathroom, but can cause serious problems... Constantly wet tubing has a limited life.

Therefore, such a problem should be solved very quickly. In this case, questions arise, what to do if water drops are found on the pipeline and how to remove condensate from the pipes. cold water... First, you don't need to over-dramatize the situation. Secondly, you need to familiarize yourself with all methods of eliminating this problem. Third, choose the most the best option and put it into practice.

Reasons for the formation of condensation

Condensation on cold water pipes may appear for the following reasons:

Source presence in the room high humidity.
Insufficient ventilation.
Water supply pipes have poor quality thermal insulation.
Temperature changes. For this reason, in the summer, there may be a stronger formation of condensation, which simply flows down the surface of the pipes.

Most of the reasons for the formation of condensation are self-explanatory. As for the first item from the list, some clarifications are required.

Sources of high humidity include the following:

Problems arising in the process of functioning of communication systems and buildings. This can include steam generation during cooking, evaporation from wet laundry, a flooded basement, a pipeline accident, and debris clogged ventilation.
Building defects resulting from a violation of construction technology.
Geographic features region: the close location of large bodies of water or high humidity levels in combination with rocky soil, which contributes to the formation of condensation.
Unfavorable natural phenomena: sleet, lingering rains or humid local climate.

Prerequisites for the appearance of condensation on cold water pipes

In most cases, condensation appears on the pipes located in the bathrooms. Despite the specificity of these premises, it is not only for this reason that the pipes become wet.

There are a number of factors that can cause condensation to form on toilet pipes:

Insufficient ventilation. To determine that condensation appears precisely because of this, it is enough to leave the toilet doors open at night. If the pipeline turns out to be dry in the morning, then repairs should be done ventilation system and make it better.
Constant flow of water in the tank due to valve malfunction. This leads to the fact that the pipeline begins to cool down, as a result of which a greater accumulation of condensate is noted on its surface. A simple repair of the inlet valve and tank taps will help to fix the problem.
Leaks in the toilet of the neighbors living on the top floor. In this case, you need to inform the owners about the situation that has arisen. If they are absent, you can temporarily eliminate the condensation with your own hands. For this, the section of the pipeline, on which the accumulation of water droplets is found, is wrapped with a bandage in several layers and one end of the winding is lowered into the container, the accumulated water is regularly poured out. Read also: "".

The accumulation of water on the cold water pipes in the bathroom can occur in the following situations:

Incorrect location of the water supply system. If the pipes for hot and cold water supply pass close enough to each other and do not have thermal insulation, then water droplets accumulate on the elements through which cold water flows. The way out of this situation is to ensure high-quality thermal insulation of pipe elements using suitable materials.
Mixer malfunction. If water is constantly dripping from the tap, then the overall temperature decreases. working environment, which leads to cooling of the pipes and the formation of condensation on their surface. Repairing the mixer will help to solve the problem.

How to remove condensate, how can you wrap pipes

Those who are faced with such a phenomenon immediately have the question of how to wind the pipe so that there is no condensation. There are several ways to prevent the appearance of water droplets on the surface of cold water pipes, one of which is thermal insulation. This option is considered the most effective, since it eliminates the cause of their appearance - the temperature drop. The easiest and fastest way to solve the problem is by means of an insulating tube, cutting it lengthwise for convenient placement. Foamed polyethylene, energoflex or thermoflex are used for the manufacture of the tube.

There is another way to deal with condensation on pipe elements, but it is considered more complicated. Using this option requires following materials: epoxy putty, acetone, rust remover, sanding paper, spatula, nylon thread and strips of fabric about 5 cm wide.

The process looks like this:

The pipe is sanded to improve adhesion to the surface.
Degrease the sanded area with acetone.
The surface is treated with a rust solvent and allowed to dry (read also: "").
A thick epoxy putty is applied to the pipe and wrapped with strips of fabric. The edges are fixed with a thread.
Another layer of putty is applied on top and wrapped again with a cloth.
Cover the fabric with a putty and leave to dry completely.
After all layers are dry, the pipe is sanded and painted.

In the event that water droplets appear as a result of a malfunction of the plastic pipeline, you can independently replace the damaged section of the pipeline with a new elbow. Metal pipelines can only be replaced by plumbing workers with special equipment and skills.

To prevent condensation from forming on plastic cold water pipes, it is recommended to use the following types of insulating materials:

Polyfoam or expanded polystyrene is considered a universal insulation for pipelines made of polymer materials... It comes in the form of a shell, consisting of two halves. They are interconnected by means of a groove-ridge lock. The use of such insulation is quite simple: the halves of the shell are put on the pipe and fixed with adhesive tape.
Mineral wool for pipeline insulation is produced in rolls, which greatly simplifies the use of this material.
Polyurethane foam refers to insulation with high insulating characteristics. The temperature range of such material is wide enough, from -160 0 С to +150 0 С. Almost all polypropylene pipes have such a layer, it is formed on products during the production process. In this case, the thickness of the insulation reaches 5 cm.

Chemicals that help get rid of condensation

Chemical products such as Stermizol, Korund, Teplomett and others help protect cold water supply pipes from condensation.

The use of these insulating mixtures implies the following actions:

The pipe is cleaned of dirt and rust.
A layer of primer is applied for better adhesion of the insulation to the surface and left to dry.
Using a roller, brush or spray gun, cover the surface with a protective mixture. The most effective is the application of 5 layers of insulation, and each layer must dry well before the next application. Optimal time drying of such mixtures is about 1 hour.
A special fixer helps to extend the service life of the heat-insulated pipeline, which, in parallel, will make the pipes more attractive.

What method to use to combat condensation on cold water pipes depends on the reasons for the formation of this phenomenon and the specific operating conditions. It is very important to consider how often the problem occurs, as well as at what stage it is.

Condensate drain - condensate drain

To drain the formed condensate into automatic mode a float steam trap is used. This device is installed at the outlet of an apparatus that provides heat exchange, including water heaters and air heaters. Through such technical device the water accumulated in the system simply evaporates.

Steam traps are divided into three main groups:

Combined type devices.
thermostatic.
Float.

Float type steam traps operate by exploiting the density difference between condensate and steam. These devices are very popular due to the large number of positive characteristics.

The main advantages of this type of device are the following:

High degree of reliability.
Excellent performance indicators.
Ability to work at minimum loads.
No need for condensate cooling.
Resistant to sudden temperature changes.
Uninterrupted operation at increased loads.

Also, one cannot fail to note the optimal indicators of energy saving of thermal systems with float-type steam traps.

To combat condensation, you can choose any of the listed methods. In most cases, using them helps to eliminate unwanted moisture. If these options are insufficiently effective, it is possible to get rid of the formation of condensation on the pipes of cold water supply by waterproofing all surfaces of the room. Quality execution works of this type are possible only with special knowledge and skills.

Condensation on cold water pipes is quite common. Both metal and plastic pipes most of all covered with moisture in summer: in order to effectively overcome this problem, it is important to understand the exact cause of its origin.

Why condensation occurs

The main reasons for wetting a cold pipeline:

If it comes about a cold water stand, in this case condensation will form on a constant basis, until puddles appear on the floor. The reason may lie in a leak in one or more pipes in the upper neighbor's apartment. Often the whole thing is in an unreliable toilet cistern. To clarify this, it is best to choose night time, when it is possible to hear well the falling of drops on sewer riser... Condensation on pipes hot water usually does not occur.
When there is no exhaust ventilation. The same may be due to interruptions in her work. This problem often affects new buildings or dwellings where there are metal plastic windows: in such cases, there may be a lack of hood if the windows are tightly closed. To determine the difference, a simple experiment is carried out by applying a newspaper to ventilation grill by opening and then closing windows. If there is no exhaust ventilation, sometimes it turns out to be powerless and additional fan.
If condensation is observed on plastic pipes that enter the apartment wiring, quite often the reason lies in the breakdown of the plumbing fixture, with insufficient or completely absent hood.

Condensation on pipes in the toilet

Condensation on the cold water pipes in the toilet can occur due to high humidity air or temperature fluctuations. If this problem is detected, the ventilation is checked first: for this, you can leave the door to the room open overnight. If during this time the moisture on the pipes disappears, then the whole point is in poor ventilation. Another potentially possible reason- constant flow of water through the tank.

This leads to the effect of cooling the pipe, since there is no time left for heating the water inside it. As a result, the pipe surface becomes a comfortable place for moisture condensation. Usually, after repairing the valves and the intake valve, the problem disappears.

Condensation in the bathroom on cold water pipes

Before starting repair activities, it is important to accurately determine the cause of the problem, which usually consists of the following:

When the riser pipe gets wet, the whole thing is usually in the flow of the neighbors from above.
If the pipe near the plumbing fixture gets wet, then the reason lies in the faulty tap.
If problems with ventilation are found, work will need to be done to eliminate blockages blocking the hood.

If condensation appears on the pipes in the bathroom: what to do in such cases? When listing the methods for eliminating condensation, one cannot but recall thermal insulation, which quite effectively helps in this problem.

If this material is not available, simple polyurethane foam can replace it. For this, a corrugation with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the problem pipe is taken and cut into separate sections, convenient for installation on communications. After putting on the corrugation, its inner space is foamed.

How to install thermal insulation on your own

Insulating cold water pipes from condensation is quite simple to do on your own.

This requires the following consumables:

Sanding paper.
Rust converter.
Strong thick thread.
Cloth strips 50-60 mm wide.
Epoxy putty.
Acetone.
Spatula.

Sand the insulated section of the pipeline to improve its adhesion performance.
Pour some acetone onto a rag and degrease the surface.
Use phosphoric acid to protect against corrosion.
After the pipe is completely dry, a thick epoxy putty is applied to its surface (it is important that the material does not drip)
Without waiting for the substance to harden, you need to quickly wind the fabric using good tension. A prepared thick thread is used to fix the last turn. During this procedure, it is very important that the turns of the fabric completely overlap each other, and the putty completely saturates them.
After waiting until the putty is completely dry, you need to apply a couple more layers of thermal insulation according to the same scheme. Finish coating a layer of epoxy will protrude.
Once the finish is dry, the pipe can be sanded and painted.

Elimination of condensate on the pipeline

To eliminate this unpleasant phenomenon, one of the following methods can be used:

Elimination of ventilation system problems. Inadequate ventilation can lead not only to condensation on pipes: it is important to remember that such conditions can provoke the formation of mold, which is very harmful to breathing and can cause many diseases. To enhance passive ventilation, an additional forced ventilation fan is usually used. manual mode... In addition, an automation can be installed, to turn on which a timer or hygrometer is used.
The reason may also lie in large drops. temperature regime indoor and plumbing: because of this, surfaces that are in direct contact with cold water fog up. In the future, the accumulation of moisture can develop into streams flowing down to the floor. In this case, it helps good thermal insulation cold pipeline, which is easiest to perform using a special tubular material (thermoflex, energy flex, foamed polyethylene). This type of insulation is available in several sizes. When selecting, you need to focus on the indicator of the inner diameter, which should be equal to the diameter of the pipeline. The tube is notched along its entire length, followed by pulling on the tube and gluing the seam. For these purposes, it is best to use a special permanent-type metallized adhesive tape.

The indoor microclimate is often directly influenced by weather conditions in the form of prolonged rains, or the specifics of the local climate. This is especially true of areas near big rivers, lakes, seas or oceans. In this case, even the most high-quality waterproofing will not help at home: it is much more efficient to use dehumidifiers or air conditioners that have a similar function. It should be said that the struggle to normalize humidity inside the home is useful not only from the point of view of combating condensation: it will also have a beneficial effect on safety. interior decoration and the health of the inhabitants of the house.

The formation of water droplets on pipes in apartments and in private homes is quite common. This process most often occurs in summer and covers the surface of both gravity sewer and "cold" water pipes. The condensation phenomenon itself is not a problem. But its significant accumulation, followed by dripping, leads to the formation of puddles on the floor. The accumulation of condensate on pipes can significantly shorten the operating period of a water supply system, leading to unplanned repairs. Excessive moisture on the pipes is the cause bad smell and dampness in kitchens, toilets and bathrooms, contributes to the development of mold and mildew.

In this article, we will analyze the main reasons for the appearance of condensation on water pipes and ways to deal with it.

The main causes of condensation.

To begin with, we will consider the mechanism of the appearance of water droplets on a pipe from the point of view of physics. Let's remember the very nature of the origin of the condensate. This phenomenon is directly related to the temperature and humidity in the room. We all know that the human body is 80% water and all its vital activity is inextricably linked with the use of water. These are bathing procedures and taking a bath, preparing food and washing clothes. Plants and animals around us, and the bathroom rug are also sources of wet steam.

And if such wet air falls on a sufficiently cold surface, then we observe this unfavorable effect - the appearance of condensation.

Back in school, in physics lessons, we studied that all substances can be in three states of aggregation: solid, liquid and gaseous. Illustrative example this is ice, water and steam.

As the temperature rises, the water turns into steam. And each room has a specific humidity, i.e. the presence of water in the air in a gaseous state. The transition of water from a gaseous state to a liquid is called condensation... And in order for this transition process to take place, it is necessary to lower the temperature. Since the cold water riser in the bathroom or toilet is the coldest point in the room, condensation falls on the pipe. Everyone probably remembers how drops appear on pipes or a cistern. This is exactly the case.

The temperature at which condensation begins to form is called dew point... The dew point is determined by the relative humidity of the air. The higher the relative humidity, the higher the dew point and closer to the actual air temperature. The lower the relative humidity, the lower the dew point of the actual temperature. If the relative humidity is 100%, then the dew point is the same as the actual temperature. That is, in other words, the humidity in the bathroom can be high, which means the temperature at which the steam turns into water is also higher. Consequently, having met the cold surface of the pipes, the steam will instantly condense, and then will flow down them to the floor.

1. The first reason is faulty plumbing. Leaking faucet, faulty toilet barrels lead to the fact that, as a result of constant and uninterrupted water exchange, the surface temperature of the pipe, mixer or cistern gradually decreases. The water simply does not have time to heat up in the pipe, being constantly replaced by cold water, which cools the pipe even more, as a result of which condensation appears on the pipes in the toilet. In this case, it is necessary to check and repair the taps and inlet valve drain tank.

2. If the plumbing is working properly, but the riser still gets wet, your neighbors in the riser on the floor above may be indirect culprits for the formation of condensation on your pipes. It is because of their faulty plumbing that your pipes sweat.

3. Another reason for the formation of condensation can be the absence or poor performance of exhaust ventilation, which is often found in new buildings and apartments with installed metal-plastic windows where there is no extractor hood in the case of closed windows. Water vapor, accumulating in the room, cannot escape outside. In this case, the quality of ventilation can be checked by attaching a newspaper to the hood with open and closed windows. If there is not much difference, then the ventilation is not working well. In the absence of exhaust ventilation in the bathroom, in which the risers are located, sometimes even installing a fan does not help.

Condensate elimination methods.

So, we have found out the main causes of condensation. Based on the reasons, respectively, you can select methods of elimination.

If the pipe leading to the plumbing fixture gets wet, this indicates a malfunction of the faucet;
If the plumbing is working properly, but the riser pipe gets wet, it is possible that the neighbors on top have a problem;
If the check showed insufficient ventilation, remove the blockages formed in the exhaust hole, etc.

However, what if all the above methods of dealing with condensation do not give the desired effect? Remains the last, the most simple and effective way.

The use of thermal insulation.

The use of a thermal insulating layer gives the effect of a thermos, preventing direct contact of the cold pipe surface with warm humidified air. As thermal (or heat) insulation, we recommend the use of heat-insulating pipes made of foamed polyethylene. The KPR-DV company sells them under the Jermoflex brand. For pipe insulation, a selected thermal insulation material wrap tightly or put on the pipe and fix it. Cut the full length of the heat-insulating tubes. To facilitate the work on the Jermoflex pipe thermal insulation, there is already a longitudinal notch. Then the water pipe is wiped dry and heat-insulating material is put on it, achieving complete tightness in such a way as to prevent contact with the air in the room. If this is not done, condensation will accumulate under the heat-insulating material on the pipe and serve as a source of its destruction. Then the put on heat-insulating material is glued along the entire length of the cut (edge) with special tape or glue. These materials can also be purchased from our company and you can carry out all the work yourself. It is advisable during the smallest drawdown, so that the water in the pipe is heated.

We hope this article was helpful. For all questions arising during the installation of thermal insulation, you can contact our managers for advice on a single free number 8 800-250-26-65 ... We will be happy to help you.

According to the laws of physics, warm air contains more moisture than cold air. In areas with large temperature differences, water vapor settles on a colder surface, forming condensation.

Especially in summer, so many water droplets collect that they run down to the floor, where non-drying puddles form. And constantly wet pipes begin to rust, mold and fail faster.

Condensation occurs on water pipes for a variety of reasons. First of all, these are technical malfunctions:

Also, the amount of condensation is affected by the humidity of the surrounding air. This parameter is often determined by reasons that are impossible or very difficult to eliminate:

humid climate;
prolonged precipitation;
large bodies of water nearby.

How to get rid of condensation on pipes: the main ways to combat

The harmful effects of moisture on plumbing equipment and the room makes you think about methods of combating the formation of condensation. Most of them are relatively simple and inexpensive.

Installing an exhaust fan in the bathroom

First of all, excess moisture is eliminated by the inflow fresh air... If there is no ventilation at all, it is advisable to organize it.

Your existing system may be impaired by debris accumulated in your ventilation duct... It is necessary to unscrew the grate and carefully clean out dust and cobwebs from the hole.

You can verify the presence of a draft by holding a lighted match to the hole. If the draft is still insufficient, you need to buy and build a fan into the duct.

Installation of insulating tubes

High-quality insulation is one of the most effective ways... Efficient and inexpensive vapor-tight insulation is made of polyethylene foam. This material is called energoflex and is sold in the form of finished tubes of various diameters or in rolls.

Before use, the pipeline must be dried, then cut the elastic tunnel lengthwise and put it on the pipe. The joints are processed polyurethane foam and secured with waterproof tape.

Epoxy putty application

Homemade insulation can be made with epoxy putty and old scraps of fabric. The pipe is cleaned from traces of rust with sanding paper, wiped with acetone to remove grease and additionally special means against rust.

Now the main layer of epoxy putty is applied to it and quickly wrapped around the still wet surface with strips of rags. After winding two or three layers, the fabric is fixed with a wire and a finishing layer of epoxy putty is applied on top of it. Now you need to wait until it dries and you can clean and paint the surface.

Temporary ways

If not necessary materials, or in this moment it is impossible to carry out work, you can use in simple ways... But remember that they are not suitable for long-term use.

Wrap a bandage around the wet pipe and lower its tip into a container to collect water.
Keep doors open at all times.
Place moisture absorbers in the room, for example, silica gel beads in bags.

Processing of water pipes

Plumbing pipe treatment is the most affordable and effective way to deal with condensation. Older systems usually consist of metal components and to a greater extent susceptible to leaks and corrosion.

Modern pipelines can be made from both durable plastic and fracture-resistant metal alloys.

Metal pipes

Metal pipes are particularly susceptible to corrosion in damp conditions. Moreover, they lend themselves well to staining. Previously, the old rust is cleaned and the metal is coated with anti-corrosion compounds: carbolate paste, protective primers based on drying oil or epoxy varnish. Then the outer surface is painted oil paint.

In the bathroom

A small bathroom area often leads to the fact that the risers are located too close to each other. As a result, the pipes “cry”, creating additional dampness in an already humid room.

Cold pipes laid open can be painted with any oil paint or enamel. Only heat-resistant enamels are suitable for hot pipes and heated towel rails.

If a faucet or shower drips, this will add additional cooling to the pipes. Heat transfer between them and environment increases and condensation forms more intensively. In addition, water is wasted, which harms the environment and makes water meters spin. Therefore, maintaining plumbing in good condition will bring tangible savings and benefit.

In the toilet

The need to process pipelines in the toilet is also associated with their close arrangement in space. In addition, a leaking tank leads to a constant movement of cold water through the pipes, and this, in turn, to their additional cooling.

Equipment repairs plus thermal insulation and painting will help maintain engineering Communication dry.

Plastic pipes do not rust, but condensation on them also leads to puddles on the floor and mold on the walls. If the system was not originally installed in an optimal way, you will have to pay attention to it, ensuring isolation.

Cold water pipes

Universal thermal insulation for plastic "cold" pipes is expanded polystyrene, or simply polystyrene. It does not have elasticity, so the insulation is produced in two parts with a pipe recess.

The polystyrene foam halves are put on the pipeline and fastened with special connecting elements and reinforced adhesive tape. Thanks to this, the tightness of the insulation is achieved, which is very important for achieving a good effect.

Glass wool is also used or mineral wool... These heaters can be purchased according to the diameter of the pipes or you can buy a whole roll, which can then be used as needed.

With hot water

The difficulty lies in the fact that it cannot be applied to plastic pipes at home. We'll have to take care of purchasing pipes with a suitable coating with a thickness of 3 cm, made at the factory.

Chemical treatment

There are special chemical compositions to combat condensation on pipes. For pipelines with cold water, the industry offers tools such as:

Grafotherm;
Stermisole;
Corundum, etc.

The cleaned surface is treated with a primer and a protective mixture is applied using a spray gun or a brush. It is recommended to apply the product in several layers to enhance the action. Each next layer is applied after the previous one has dried. On top of the latter, a so-called fixer is applied. It protects insulation and improves the appearance of communications.

Steam traps

Since the problem of water condensation is widespread, there are devices that trap the water vapor and drain the resulting liquid. In particular, condensate traps are installed at the outlet of water heaters. Depending on the heat exchange scheme, thermodynamic, thermostatic and mechanical devices are used.

The most popular are condensate traps operating on the float principle of operation. They separate the accumulated water from the steam and remove it from the system, taking advantage of the difference in density between water and steam.

Float devices have the following advantages:

exceptional reliability;
high performance;
optimal energy saving in the system.

Insulating pipes at home

A skilled owner can do most of the work on thermal insulation on his own. Replacing a leaking elbow on a plastic pipe requires almost no special equipment. The pipe can also be bent to increase the distance to the adjacent pipeline. For isolation, this method is often used. A corrugation of a larger diameter is put on the pipe and the gap is filled with polyurethane foam.

If the pipes are walled up under the tiles, it is also advisable to insulate them. Otherwise, black mold will appear in the tile joints.

For information on how to properly insulate pipes in the bathroom, watch the video.

In the apartment

Carrying out work in apartment building, it must be borne in mind that the risers, fan pipes etc. are common property. It is better to coordinate actions with them with management company... Also, in order to turn off the water supply, you will have to contact your local plumber. The equipment in the bathroom and toilet, pipes and flexible hoses, as a rule, belong to the owners of the apartment. They can be processed and replaced at your discretion.

In a private house

In a private house, the owner is responsible for all communications, external and internal. Even at the construction stage, you need to pay attention to the wiring diagram and the thermal insulation of the system. To correct the situation in the finished house, you will have to apply the above methods of dealing with condensation.

If you can't get rid of the condensate, the walls and floor are waterproofed. And this is already costly and voluminous renovation work, which can only be performed by specialists.

Preventive measures

To avoid finishing touches and alterations on the water supply system, you need to remember about a proven tool - prevention. Performance simple recommendations will help without special efforts reduce the amount of condensate:

Leaving the bathroom door open, especially after showering.
Install the grate at the bottom of the door and widen the gap between the door and the threshold.
Increase the diameter of the exhaust duct.
Arrange forced draft by installing a fan.
Choose plastic windows with micro-ventilation.
Monitor the condition of the cranes and the tank, carry out repairs in a timely manner.

If excess moisture remains, you can purchase a separate dehumidifier or air conditioner with this function.

The choice of how to deal with water condensation depends on the reasons for its occurrence in a given location. It should be noted that even if there is no more condensation on the surface as a result of temporary measures, the root cause must be found and eliminated. After carrying out correctly planned work, the pipes will be reliably insulated, and the air humidity will decrease. This ensures that your home is free of mold and dampness.

A rare person has not had to deal with such a phenomenon as condensation on the surface of a cold water pipeline. Although this unpleasant phenomenon can occur on other structures - windows, external walls, in the corners of rooms.

Condensation is caused by moisture vapor in the air. When they come into contact with a cold surface, they cool down and turn into drops. The higher the humidity in the room and the greater the temperature difference between the air and the cold surface, the greater the likelihood of this unpleasant phenomenon.

If the pipes and windows chronically "cry" in the house, then it is urgently necessary to deal with the causes of this phenomenon.

This mainly affects rooms such as bathrooms and toilets. This is where the risers of the cold and hot pipelines are usually located.

There are several reasons for water condensation on pipes:

poor ventilation of the bathroom and toilet, leading to high humidity in them and an increase in the overall temperature in these rooms;
in the toilet, the cause of the problem may be a malfunction of the valve that blocks the water in the toilet bowl - water leakage leads not only to its leakage, but also to constant cooling of the cold water pipe;
in the bathroom, condensation often forms for the same reason - a malfunction of the mixer valve that shuts off cold water;
high humidity in an apartment or house, which can be caused by many malfunctions - poor ventilation, leaking roof, incorrectly selected insulation.

If condensation has begun to form recently, then the cause must be found out immediately, and not wait for the problem to become chronic. Perhaps you recently changed windows or installed any equipment in the house that contributes to "warming the microclimate".

It must be remembered that although condensate is just water, it is it that is the main aggressive medium that destroys steel structures, including pipes.

In addition, excess moisture will sooner or later cause the appearance of mold and mildew not only on pipes, but also in any part of the apartment where there are cold surfaces.

And this is no longer just ugly, but often even dangerous for people living in the house, especially allergy sufferers.

How to deal with misted pipes

The algorithm is very simple - you need to find the cause and eliminate it:

You can start by checking drain system tank and stopcocks. To do this, you will have to watch them. Sometimes people, leaving the bathroom, do not notice that the tap is undermining, and the toilet valve periodically opens due to a decrease in the float level due to a small leak from the tank.
Check that the ventilation is working properly with a piece of paper or by holding a lighted match up to the ventilation grill. If the piece of paper falls, and the match burns evenly, then the ventilation is not working.
If you did not find any faults in your apartment, then you will have to visit the neighbors upstairs and find out from them if they have encountered the same problem. A malfunction on any floor located above leads to a constant circulation of cold water in the pipe, which significantly reduces its temperature.

If in the bathroom and toilet you have forced ventilation, then it is worth checking the effectiveness of its work.
If everything is in order, but the pipes "cry", then the reason for this is that the temperature difference between the pipe surface and the ambient air exceeds 17 degrees, and special methods will have to be used to solve the problem.

Solutions to the problem

The main idea of all of the following methods is the thermal insulation of the cold water pipeline to reduce the intensity of exposure to too warm air.

Painting pipes with heat-insulating paint. It is quite expensive, but at the same time effective method solving the task at hand. Here you should be patient, because to achieve the desired effect, you will have to paint the pipe at least 5-6 times. Each previous layer of paint must be dried well and only then the next one should be applied. In this case, the room will have to be forcibly ventilated - an ordinary fan is suitable for this.

Insulation of the pipe with foamed heat insulator liners. The linings are soft pipes with a longitudinal cut. They are put on a dry pipe like a cover, and the edges are then glued together. To achieve the desired effect, it is very important that the size of the pad fits perfectly to the pipe diameter. if it is larger, then there will be no effect at all, and if it is smaller, then you will not be able to glue the edges of the lining. You can combine the two previous methods: first paint the pipe, dry the paint and put on overlays on it, which can also be painted on top with heat-insulating paint.
Putting a larger plastic pipe on the pipe and filling the space with polyurethane foam, you can also achieve good results. But here it is important that the foam completely and evenly fills the space between the pipes, otherwise the method will not work.
Self-creation of thermal insulation on the pipe surface. This is an inexpensive but troublesome method and a completely reliable solution to the problem.

To create it, you need to stock up on the following materials:

epoxy putty;
Plain cotton fabric (such as old sheets)
strong thread or thin twine;
putty knife;
sandpaper;
means for cleaning pipes from rust;
acetone or other suitable substance for degreasing the pipe surface.

The fabric should be cut into strips approximately 10 cm wide and rolled up. Medical bandages of suitable width can also be used.

Then we proceed as follows:

We clean the pipe from paint and thoroughly degrease its surface.
Next, the pipe is treated with an anti-rust agent.
After the pipe has dried, a layer of epoxy putty must be applied to it and immediately quickly wrapped with a cloth from bottom to top. In this case, the turns of the fabric should be superimposed on each other and impregnated with a putty. Then the fabric is secured with a thread.
After the first layer has dried, several more are applied in the same way.
At the end of the work, I again coat the pipe with putty on top.

Once the insulation is completely dry, it can be sanded and painted in a suitable color.

In solving the problem of "crying" pipes, the main thing is not to miss the moment before the pipes begin to corrode.

If you cannot fix the problem by eliminating leaks in the valves of plumbing fixtures and good ventilation, it is better to immediately resort to thermal insulation.