Home Water Pipes & Insulation

In cold climates, in unconditioned spaces, hot-water pipes can easily freeze and be a source of heat loss, while cold water pipes can get condensation dripping. To avoid it, you should protect those pipes with insulation.

Insulation should involve all the accessible pipes or, at least, the first 3 feet (1 meter) of them (measured from the water heater, in the case of hot-water pipes).

See: Home ducts sealing and insulation

Safety Warnings

Take into account the product manufacturer’s warnings. Use safety goggles and gloves when working with some materials (e.g. fiberglass)...

Do not insulate the zone of the pipes close to the flue (at least the first 6 inches (16 cm)).

Before installation

Before installing the insulation, remove dirt or grease from the pipes and allow the pipes to dry.

Pipe sleeves insulation

Pipe sleeves - made with polyethylene or neoprene foam and presented in a wide variety of sizes – are an excellent option. Choose a pipe sleeve that is at least about 3/4 inch thick or R-4. Piple sleeves are easy to install and very effective.

You should match the pipe sleeve's with the pipe's outside diameter to get a snug fit. So, before buying, measure the diameter of your pipe, to see if you have 3/4 inch piping or 1/2 inch piping. To secure the insulation to the pipe, use wire or tape, or clamp it with a cable. If more than one sleeve is needed, you must duct tape the seam where the pipes meet.

Note: plumbing pipes ae measured by inside diameter.

Wraps and insulating tapes

High quality sleeves are excellent options, but the presents different alternatives like insulation wraps and tapes. They are also inexpensive and may be applied by yourself. Just tape the product around the pipes and joints and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

When buying, look for top tapes, as those qualified by the Underwriters Laboratories (logo on left).

Foam rubber insulation

Foam rubber insulation is another pipe insulation alternative. Just put it over the pipes and wrap the ends, which should be secured with duct tape. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Fiberglass insulation

Fiberglass type insulation is yet another alternative. Just wrap the fiberglass in plastic to prevent condensation. If pipes are very close to the flue, use fiberglass pipe-wrap with 1-inch (1,5 cm) thick or more. Use wire or aluminum foil tape to secure the fiberglass to the pipe.