Insulate Both The Cold Water and Hot Water Pipes and Save!

There are great reasons to spend a little bit on buying insulation for your water pipes. Actually, if you are anything like me, it is even better to install the insulation around your water pipes soon after you buy it rather they let it lay around collecting dust.

You can buy the insulation at Home Depot or Lowe’s or any plumbing supply center. Make sure you know the size of the water pipes so that you can get the appropriate fit.

Why insulate cold water pipes? Well, the main reason would be to prevent then from freezing if they are located in an unheated crawl space or in a garage or anywhere you suspect would be a potential problem spot.

But, what about the hot water pipes? The hot water pipes can loose a lot of heat as the water travels from your hot water tank to it’s final destination. By insulating these pipe, you keep the heat in, and this will result in the water getting to the shower, tub or sink sooner.

On the The U.S. Department of Energy’s website, there is a wealth of information that everyone could benefit by and I would recommend that you bookmark this site. Regarding water pipe insulation here are some great tips from the site.

“Insulating your hot water pipes reduces heat loss and can raise water temperature 2ºF–4ºF hotter than uninsulated pipes can deliver, allowing for a lower water temperature setting. You also won’t have to wait as long for hot water when you turn on a faucet or showerhead, which helps conserve water.

Insulate all accessible hot water pipes, especially within 3 feet of the water heater. It’s also a good idea to insulate the cold water inlet pipes for the first 3 feet.

Use quality pipe insulation wrap, or neatly tape strips of fiberglass insulation around the pipes. Pipe sleeves made with polyethylene or neoprene foam are the most commonly used insulation. Match the pipe sleeve’s inside diameter to the pipe’s outside diameter for a snug fit. Place the pipe sleeve so the seam will be face down on the pipe. Tape, wire, or clamp (with a cable tie ) it every foot or two to secure it to the pipe. If you use tape, some recommend using acrylic tape instead of duct tape.

On gas water heaters, keep insulation at least 6 inches from the flue. If pipes are within 8 inches of the flue, your safest choice is to use fiberglass pipe-wrap (at least 1-inch thick) without a facing. You can use either wire or aluminum foil tape to secure it to the pipe.”

To find out more about this or other energy saving ideas and advice just click on the following link:

U.S. Department of Energy