Walk past almost any outdoor condensing unit or heat pump that's been in for a few years and you'll often see the same thing: pipe insulation that's cracked, crumbling or missing altogether where it runs across a wall or roof. It looks untidy, but the real cost is energy wasted every hour the system runs.
In October 2026 the issue was back in the trade press, with the "Proof is on the Roof" campaign, backed by BESA, the Institute of Refrigeration and European insulation body CEFEP, calling for a crackdown on incorrectly specified and fitted insulation on heat pump installations (Cooling Post, 12 October 2026).
Why outdoor insulation fails
Standard black elastomeric foam and other non-UV-resistant insulation are designed for indoor or protected runs. Left exposed to direct sunlight, they break down surprisingly quickly: the surface hardens, splits and eventually falls away. Add rain, frost and daily temperature swings and the damage accelerates.
Once the insulation is compromised you get:
- Heat loss or gain on refrigerant lines, so the system works harder for the same output
- Condensation and ice on suction lines, which can drip, stain walls or damage finishes
- Corrosion risk on pipework and fixings where moisture sits against bare copper
- Call-backs and unhappy customers when the install looks tired after a couple of summers
How to protect outdoor pipe runs
None of this is difficult to get right at install stage. The options are:
- Use UV and weather-resistant insulation on any section that will see daylight, rather than standard indoor-grade foam.
- Cover the insulation with a protective jacket, coating or cladding where standard insulation is used outdoors.
- Run pipework in trunking. Purpose-made line-set trunking shields insulation from sunlight and knocks, and gives a much neater finish on the wall.
- Seal joints and ends properly with suitable tape so water can't get in behind the insulation.
- Check it at every service visit. Degraded insulation is quick to spot and cheap to fix compared with the energy it wastes.
A quick win for efficiency
Industry voices in the campaign describe pipework insulation as low-hanging fruit for decarbonisation: an easy fix that protects the efficiency customers are paying for. For installers, getting it right is also an easy way to stand out on quality.
Browse our installation materials, including pipe insulation and tapes, and our air conditioning pipe and pipework range. Need advice on the right product for an outdoor run? Call our team during office hours, Monday to Friday 9am–4pm.
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