Pipe Insulation

3/8/2018 (Permalink)

One major cause of water damage is bursting pipes in the colder months. When a pipe freezes and then defrosts the water trapped inside will expand causing the pipe to burst as you can read about in our other blog post. Here we will discuss pipe insulation which will in turn prevent the freezing and bursting of pipes in winter time.

Pipe Wrap Insulation:

Pipe insulation has many benefits, one of which is its ability to minimize heat gain and loss. This benefit may very well be the most important. When water travels through pipes in a home without pipe insulation hot water will lose heat and cold water will gain heat. Pipe insulation will allow you to greatly diminish these otherwise inevitable inefficiencies. This could result in lowering monthly energy bills and you won’t need to wait as long for the hot water to reach fixtures in your bathroom! When surfaces of plumbing pipes are cooler than the surrounding air, insulation helps control the condensation. This could otherwise result in slowly corroding pipe. Though condensation may not seem like a major concern, it’s quite common particularly when cold water lines come in contact with warm air. There are many types of pipe insulation made of different materials. Some are more suitable for hot water and some for controlling condensation. Being there are so many types to choose from, each with a different purpose, be sure to do your research before installing. Asbestos is not uncommon in many older home pipe insulations. Asbestos insulation is not always easy to spot but has a distinct corrugated look. If you are suspicious be sure to contact a professional. Pipe insulation is almost never a bad idea and should be thoroughly looked into before attempting. The benefits of this procedure far outweigh any negative effects!