Some of the buried high-temperature steam and hot water piping systems that we currently encounter have been in service underground for 50-100 years. With temperatures in the 250˚F to 450˚F range, steam and HTHW pipes in service today are too often operating with insulations that have significantly deteriorated or disappeared over time. Most systems operators are not aware of the level of degradation and the inefficiencies since the piping remains buried underground and is out-of-sight out-of-mind.

As an insulation and thermal restoration company, one of our objectives is to try to show system owners what normally cannot be seen inside the construction of their buried piping system while making sure that they consider a solution that is right for them. Below are some examples of deteriorated and/or missing insulation that we were able to identify from manholes and through excavations during field surveys throughout the U.S.