As the winters are near, there should be more caution as to how we take care of the pipes in our homes. The harsh winters can take a toll on the pipes, causing them to break, leak or freeze. It is a well-known fact that pipes that are exposed to harsh temperatures are more prone to damage. As a matter of fact, the foremost thing that we can do to safeguard our pipelines is to insulate them. The insulated pipelines located in the house’s exterior can deliver water without any hindrance or the concern of being damaged.
When a family is travelling during their winter vacation, more often, they come back to find that a single water pipe in their home has burst, leaving them with a massive mess that will take them months to clean up and restore. When it comes to gear up for the winter, one of the foremost things to do is to insulate the water pipes.
Insulating water pipes may save money on energy expenditures as well. The insulated water pipes help in preventing the heat from escaping to the surrounding atmosphere, which in turn reduces the amount of heat lost. Insulating the hot water pipes leading away from your water heater, for instance, may minimize the amount of heat that escapes and, as a result, the expenses associated with heating the water. Lastly, insulating cold water pipes may prevent moisture condensation from causing the pipes to sweat, which, in turn, may reduce humidity levels within the house during the warmer months. This can be beneficial if you live in an area that has a lot of humidity.
Where Should Water Pipes Be Insulated?
The reason(s) behind your decision to insulate water pipes will dictate which pipes you insulate. If stopping pipes from freezing is the objective, then the most important pipes to insulate are the ones that are located in areas that are not heated. These may be found in areas such as outside walls, garages that are not heated, floor cavities that are positioned over unheated crawl spaces, and other similar places.
It is not essential to insulate pipes that run through interior walls or are located in basements if they are in a location where the temperature stays above freezing. Insulate not just the hot water pipes but also the cold water pipes in order to prevent the pipes from freezing. Even pipes that carry hot water have the potential to freeze if the water in them is not constantly moving.
Why should a pipe be insulated?
Pipe insulation may be used on either hot or cold water pipes, thus it might be beneficial to insulate your pipes at home. Pipe insulation can give a variety of advantages.
Mitigate the loss of heat
When applied to heated pipes, pipe insulation will prevent heat from escaping into the surrounding region, so maintaining a temperature of the water that is about two degrees higher than it would be if the pipes were not insulated. This results in a reduced need for energy to heat the water, which in turn results in a reduction in the cost of your monthly electricity bills.
Avoid freezing
The cold weather has a huge impact on the pipes. They are more prone to freeze. Pipe insulation is the only remedy that is found effective against frozen pipes. Frozen pipes can cause the pipes to break or crack thereby hindering the water flow. It can also clog water systems, which can be expensive to restore.
Outside walls, lofts, and below-ground applications are all places where pipes are more susceptible to freezing and more difficult to reach, thus pipe insulation is especially vital in these areas. Insulating the pipe raises the pipe’s temperature and lessens the impact of weather on the pipe, hence reducing the likelihood that the pipe may freeze.
Stop the pipe from sweating
Insulation for pipes may also be used to prevent moisture buildup and pipe sweating. Condensation occurs on the surface of cold pipes when they come into touch with warm, humid air. This causes condensation, which drips into the floor or other surfaces below, resulting in puddles and dampness, as well as excessive humidity, which may lead to mold and damage. Insulating the pipes helps to keep them cool and dry by preventing condensation on the pipe’s surface.
Which kind of pipe insulation do you require?
There is a wide variety of pipe insulation solutions available on the market today, which can be used to add additional layers of insulation to the pipes that are located inside of your house or other structure.
Polyethylene foam pipe insulation
Insulation made of polyethylene foam is one of the most often used types of pipe insulation that is now available. Insulating pipework for central heating systems with polyethylene tubing, which is made of closed-cell foam pipe insulation, is one of the many uses for this material. Other applications for this material include preventing heat loss in loft spaces and insulating pipework for central heating systems.
Rubber insulation for pipes
Rubber pipe insulation is an insulating method for pipes that are made of elastomeric rubber and have closed cells. Rubber pipe insulation often has great resistance to the presence of water since it is used most frequently to forestall the formation of condensation and humid situations. However, due to the fact that it has poor thermal conductivity, it may also be employed for the purpose of thermal insulation.
In addition to these features, rubber pipe insulation is responsible for resistance to the growth of mold and bacteria, which can occur in environments that are humid. Additionally, some products that contain rubber pipe insulation also have anti-microbial protection built-in, which provides an additional layer of defense.
Automatically-sealing pipe insulation
For automatically-sealing pipe insulation, it is customary to use adhesive strips that adhere to slits cut into the insulation on one side. While rubber and polyethylene foam may be used, the most popular automatically-sealing material is self-adhesive strips. There is no need for glue to be put in hard-to-reach regions because of this method’s ease of installation.
Insulation with pipe wrap
There are a number of materials that may be used to make pipe wrap insulation, but it is put by wrapping it around the pipe as if it were tape. A fantastic option for preventing cold pipes from freezing, but it may also be used to keep hot pipes warm.
Tips for ensuring effective pipe insulation
Check your pipe insulation yearly to make sure all sections are covered and it’s in excellent shape. Replace insulating tape that’s worn out or torn to maintain insulation operating effectively.
To be effective, pipe insulation must cover the whole pipe network. Pipes running through a wall or floor might cause heat loss or freezing. Caulk, pipe insulation, or spray foam insulation may be used to cover these gaps.