DIY Tips: How to Install Pipe Insulation

By insulating your plumbing pipes properly, you can gain some advantages in addition to the advantages of preventing the pipes from getting frozen so as to avoid the pipes from bursting and causing extensive (and expensive) damage. Pipe insulation not only helps the homeowner to save money on electricity bills but also makes daily life much easier.

Pipe Wrap Insulation

The traditional pipe wrap insulation is a well-known way to shield pipes. This kind of insulation is possible to be found in many different materials, including common fibreglass and plastic, fibreglass reinforced with aluminium foil, natural cotton with an aluminium coating, and rubber pipe insulation tape. There are others in common, but these are the most commonly used materials in hardware stores.

Tubular Sleeve Insulation

Consider tubular sleeve if you have more pipes that need to be wrapped since pipe wrap insulation only works for insulating small lengths of pipe.

Mostly tubular sleeves are ready in 6-foot tubes, hence you can quickly cover much ground. You can use foam or rubber insulation for the tubular sleeves and are normally ready in a self-sealing option.

It is easy to instal pipe insulation for water pipes. The sides of the tubular sleeves are possible to be opened and join them together using duck tape after they are on the pipe.

You can buy self-sealing sleeves to make it easier and faster. It's not that difficult to cut the pipes to the right length for each pipe. The corners need be cut so that they fit tightly, with miter angles and then glued using duct tape for extra protection. You can also use duct tape regularly at the seams if the self-adhesive is unwrapped.

Managing asbestos

Up until now, some old houses have asbestos. As if disturbed and their fine fibres floated in the air, isolating the asbestos-loaded pipe could pose a serious health risk. According to Dan O'Brian, the technical expert at SuppyHouse.com it is not easy to detect asbestos insulation. He added that the insulation of the asbestos pipes has a noticeable corrugated appearance and if you have a suspicion that there is asbestos in your pipes or elsewhere in your house, you should consult an asbestos professional removalist.

The Materials:

· Insulating material

· utility knife

· Duck tape

· tape measure

· mask, safety goggles, gloves

· mild cleanser

· rag

The water pipe insulation improves the efficiency and performance of your piping systems and saves a lot of money for your heating costs. The insulation of the pipes is particularly important for areas where there is the possibility of freezing and overflowing pipelines, and also the fact that the repair bills will be expensive if this happens.

Sources:

https://www.doityourself.com/stry/diy-water-pipe-insulation

https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/services/do-it-yourself-energy-savings-projects/savings-project-insulate-hot-water-pipes

https://www.thespruce.com/water-pipe-insulation-2718695