Chilled piping and equipment that has insulation design thickness or inadequately installed vapor retarder will allow moisture to migrate to the chilled surfaces and condense. On surfaces with operating temperatures above 32 degrees Fahrenheit (F), it will result in moisture buildup on the chilled surface and in the thermal insulation itself. On surfaces with operating temperatures below 32 degrees F, the result will be ice and moisture build-up. As with insulation that becomes wet from rain due to an inadequately installed and sealed jacket, insulation that becomes wet from moisture condensation will conduct more heat to the cold surface than dry insulation. This means higher energy use by the owner/operator maintaining the cold fluid in the pipe or equipment.

Additionally, since a pound of water releases almost 1,000 Btu of heat energy to the cold surface, there's an additional energy penalty beyond wet insulation. Finally, to add insult to injury, the water eventually can drip and lead to other surfaces becoming wet that aren't designed to be wet. This is particularly a problem for chilled piping in buildings; condensation can lead to wet building materials, such as wood and drywall, which in turn can lead to their becoming damaged, possibly with mold growth.

To avoid these moisture condensation problems, it's necessary that the owner/operator be certain that the insulation design thickness is sufficient to maintain the outside surface of the insulation above dew point, and that the installation is performed according to the specification. This means that the vapor retarder must be completely intact, whether through the use of tape, mastic, or whatever. Furthermore, the vapor retarder must not have holes, gaps, or other damage inflicted deformities. If a separate jacketing is installed after the installation of the vapor retarder, and damage has been done to the vapor retarder, then we have an "out of sight, out of mind" issue again until water starts dripping out of the insulation at gaps in the jacketing. The time to avoid this sort of problem is upfront, during original insulation installation, by installing the insulation and the vapor retarder correctly.

When closed cell foam insulation is used, it's critical that the installer correctly seal all joints to prevent migration of moisture to the cold pipe or equipment surface. The water vapor transmission of closed cell insulation is low, but will only be effective with correct installation.

Another recently developed way to avoid these problems on chilled water lines is with properly installed, mineral fiber "wicking" type of pipe insulation system. While this allows moisture to migrate to the chilled pipe, it also provides for gravitational draining, wicking, and evaporation of the water. As with other systems, correct installation of the wicking system is required. It should be noted, however, that the "wicking" type systems are new and there's a limited amount of published data on their performance. Time will tell whether they're an improvement over conventional chilled water pipe insulation systems with a sealed vapor retarder or sealed closed cell foams.

For outdoor comfort, your base layer should be made of merino wool (popularized by brands such as SmartWool, Ibex and Icebreaker), synthetic fabrics (such as REI MTS, Capilene, PowerDry and CoolMax polyester) or, for a few uses, silk. Rather than absorbing moisture, these fabrics transport (or "wick") perspiration away from your skin, dispersing it on the outer surface where it can evaporate. The result: You stay drier even when you sweat, and your shirt dries faster afterwards.
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wicking (капиллярное) затекание (1. жидкости 2. припоя, напр. под изоляцию монтажного правом)

wicking пряжа для подмотки штанговых резьбовых соединений - rod wicking

wicking продольное капиллярное распространение влаги (в кабеле)