If you live in an area like Hanover, MD, that experiences freezing winter temperatures, it is very important to insulate the pipes in your home. When pipes freeze, they can severely damage a plumbing system, causing it to become completely unusable and costing a lot of money to fix. The good news is that insulating the pipes is a powerful aspect of plumbing maintenance that will do much more than just prevent them from freezing.
Why Does Insulating Your Pipes Matter?
When professionally performed, pipe insulation can make your home more comfortable and energy efficient. Whether your home has plastic or metal pipes, insulation serves as a critical barrier against cold temperatures and external damage.
Prevents Frozen Pipes
When the weather outside gets cold, the pipes in your home get cold as well. Any water running through the pipes can freeze if it gets cold enough. Once frozen, the water will expand, possibly busting the pipes and causing a plumbing emergency. By insulating the pipes, it becomes easier for them to maintain above-freezing temperatures, even during subzero weather. The pipes that are the most prone to freezing are those in places like basements, crawl spaces and attics.
Maintains Water Pressure
Frozen pipes have a direct effect on your household’s water supply. They can result in inconsistent water pressure throughout different parts of the house, which can be incredibly frustrating when trying to wash clothes, take a shower or clean dishes. With the right insulation in place, the pipes can maintain optimal flow at all times. As a result, everyone in your home will have access to consistent water pressure at all times. This type of reliability is key to minimizing disruptions to your daily routines.
Reduces Heat Loss
Most newer homes have a combination of hot and cold water pipes. Insulating the hot water pipes is essential to reducing heat loss as the water travels from the water heater to different faucets throughout the house. Uninsulated pipes can lose up to 30% of their heat, making the water heater work harder than necessary. This not only wears out the heater faster but also increases energy costs. Insulating the pipes is one of the easiest ways to slash the heat loss rate by as much as 80%.
Helps the Pipes Last Longer
In addition to helping the water heater last longer, insulation also helps the pipes last longer. When pipes are constantly freezing and unfreezing, they get weaker and are more likely to crack and corrode. Insulation shields them from extreme temperature fluctuations, reducing the overall wear and tear and extending their lifespan. The insulation also helps prevent condensation, which further helps with issues like rusting and corrosion.
What Are the Different Pipe Insulation Options?
There are a variety of pipe insulation options to choose from. The right choice depends on several factors, including your budget, the types of pipes in your home and any special design specs the house may have.
Foam Pipe Insulation
One of the most popular insulation options for homeowners is foam pipe insulation. It is extremely user-friendly, lightweight and flexible. This is mostly because it is made from polyethylene or rubber foam. It normally comes in pre-slit tubes that slide easily over the pipes. Pipe foam insulation provides excellent thermal protection and works best on pipes in basements and garages.
Pipe Heat Tape
Pipe heat tape is a special type of tape that adds warmth to the pipes you use it on. A lot of homeowners use this insulation option for pipes that are especially prone to freezing. This includes pipes located in outdoor areas and other exposed locations. Pipe heat tape plugs into an electrical outlet to receive power to generate heat. It’s fairly simple to wrap around the vulnerable pipes but can present major safety hazards if not installed professionally.
Fiberglass Pipe Wrap
If you need a more heavy-duty insulation option, you may want to consider fiberglass pipe wrap. This type is specifically designed to combat both extreme cold and hot temperatures. It has several layers of fiberglass along with a vapor barrier to keep the pipes protected from moisture problems. Fiberglass pipe wrap does offer superior protection for pipes, but it can also be more challenging to install.
Self-Sealing Insulation Tape
Many experts recommend using self-sealing insulation tape for pipes that are in hard-to-reach spaces. This may include pipes in crawl spaces or those in attics. Elbow joints are another type that can sometimes benefit from self-sealing insulation tape because of its ability to wrap around any pipe of any size or shape. A lot of professionals use it to seal joints and gaps in other types of insulation.
Reasons to Let a Professional Insulate Your Pipes
Insulating the pipes yourself may seem like a great way to save money, but the truth is, it will probably end up costing more. This is because effective pipe insulation requires certain skills and knowledge, so leave it to a professional plumber.
Proper Material Selection
One of the main reasons to let a professional insulate the pipes in your home is because they can ensure you use the right materials. With so many insulation options to choose from, it can be overwhelming trying to pick the best ones for your home. The professionals here at Beltway Air Conditioning, Heating, & Plumbing have gone through extensive training to help them select the right insulation for each home they work on. They will consider the size of the pipes in your home, their location and the local climate.
Expert Installation
Simply adding insulation to the pipes is not going to suffice. A professional knows how to inspect the entire length of the pipes to ensure they are fully covered with insulation and have no gaps or exposed areas. Even a small exposed area can compromise the effectiveness of the insulation and ability to prevent frozen pipes. Adding insulation also comes with the risk of violating certain building codes. When you let a professional handle the job, you don’t have to worry about any compliance issues.
Pinpoint and Address Hidden Issues
Many experts that insulate pipes end up discovering underlying problems with plumbing systems, like leaks, corrosion and weak points. By addressing these issues during the insulation process, the plumbing system is much less likely to experience future problems. This is paramount to maintaining the full functionality of your home and avoiding costly repairs.
What to Expect
The expert will start by getting the area surrounding the pipes ready for insulation. To make sure everyone is safe, they may need to turn off the water. The technician will then snugly wrap the insulation over each pipe, making sure it doesn’t budge. They’ll continue the installation process on each vulnerable pipe throughout the home. The installation process can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes or longer depending on how many pipes there are to insulate.
The Pros Are Here to Help
Beltway Air Conditioning, Heating, & Plumbing offers a variety of services to make your home more comfortable and energy efficient. We specialize in plumbing repairs as well as heat pump installations, bathroom plumbing, indoor air quality solutions and more. Call us now to schedule pipe insulation services for your home in Hanover.
