Would aluminium foil increase copper tubing insulation?

Hi!

My cupper tubing from the heat pump via boiler room is not insulated. That makes it inefficient, because boiler room is unnecessary heated. I am looking at way to increase insulation and reduce heat loss. I already bought standard foam based tubing insulation. I hiked a lot and first aid kit consists of survival blanket. I think it is silver aluminium based one and it works. It does reflect body heat back and as I tested it it gets warm.

I am curious if I can apply cheap DIY kitchen aluminium foil to the cupper tubing. Would that reflect the heat back and reduce the losses? One way is to place the foil directly on the tubes and another to wrap it on the outside foam based insulation, so there is no direct contact with the tubes. What would be better method if it is worth it? I read that aluminium is also conductor, so it would not be good to place it directly on the tubes. I looked at some other commercial tube insulation materials and they have the foil on the outside out. I would expect the silver part to be turned inside, to keep the heat in, not outside.

Thank you for your opinion, you probably have way more physics knowledge than I.

Welcome to PF.

LEx said:

TL;DR Summary: aluminium foil, heat retention, reflection, insulation

I looked at some other commercial tube insulation materials and they have the foil on the outside out. I would expect the silver part to be turned inside, to keep the heat in, not outside.

It makes no thermal difference, if the foil is in or out. The foil reflects heat with the same efficiency either direction.

If the foil is out, it protects the foam from external moisture condensation that could reduce the foam thermal insulation properties.

Keep different metals apart, so there is no electrochemically assisted corrosion.