Indoor and outdoor pipe insulation are crucial for efficiency and maintaining your plumbing system. Mr. Rooter® Plumbing installs hot pipe and cold protection insulation for your plumbing’s safety. Hot pipe insulation protects against heat loss and minimizes the risk of fire hazards and burns. Cold weather plumbing insulation protects your pipes from freezing in the winter; frozen pipes are a common cause of burst pipes and the flood damage that comes with them.
Protect your plumbing with insulation today. Get started when you request an estimate online.
Choosing the Best Pipe Insulation to Prevent Freezing
When you want to keep your pipes from freezing, Mr. Rooter will install pipe wrap insulation for indoor and outdoor plumbing. Keep your plumbing from freezing with:
- Rigid foam pipe insulation. While it may not provide as much insulation as other materials, rigid foam provides thermal regulation even in thin layers. It’s also resistant to moisture and corrosion.
- Flexible elastomeric foams or rubber pipe insulation. Flexibility lengthens elastomeric foam’s life, making it less susceptible to cracks and breaks. It provides excellent thermal insulation, resists mold, and offers extra acoustic protection. Elastomeric foam has a high initial cost.
- Polyethylene. Another flexible plastic foam, polyethylene is the most widely used insulation on residential pipes. It’s lightweight, durable, and offers both freeze protection and condensation control.
Remember, insulating your pipes only protects against freezing. Take further steps to entirely prevent it, including leaving water on at a drip or heating the area of your home with exposed pipes.
Heating Pipe Insulation to Maximize Efficiency
Maximize efficiency by insulating hot pipes to prevent heat loss. Standard hot water pipe and radiator steam pipe insulation help keep the heat in your system. Typical heat protectors include:
- Glass wool or fiberglass pipe insulation. Fiberglass and glass wool are lightweight materials that protect against very high temperatures and resist mold. However, they will irritate your skin, eyes, and respiratory system, so they’re best used away from areas you frequently use.
- Mineral wool insulation. Mineral wool is known for resisting extremely high temperatures and works best on extremely hot pipes. Like glass wool and fiberglass, it irritates the system and should be used away from living areas.
- Flexible elastomeric foams or rubber pipe insulation. Several insulations that protect against freezing also insulate against heat. Elastomeric foams do prevent some heat loss, though they’re not rated for as much heat as fiberglass.
- Polyethylene. The most common cold insulator also protects hot pipes from heat loss. Insulate your home plumbing with this lightweight, durable, water-resistant material.
Other Reasons to Insulate Your Pipes
While temperature is the main reason many people insulate their water pipes, insulation offers other benefits. Hot water pipe insulation also doubles as protective insulation. Scalding hot pipes pose a safety hazard; if you brush against one accidentally, you could be burned. Cold pipes may create condensation and grow mold if left uninsulated. Plumbing can also be noisy, especially in older homes. Some insulation offers acoustic dampening that can help reduce the noise level in your home.
Find Pipe Insulation Installers Near Me
You don’t need to poke around your basement or crawlspace to find all the pipes that need insulation. Just call Mr. Rooter Plumbing, and we’ll handle insulating all your plumbing so you know it’s protected. To get started, call us or request an estimate online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does pipe insulation work?
Yes! While it may not completely prevent heat loss or guarantee your pipes won’t freeze, insulation helps mitigate those issues.
At what temperature do pipes freeze?
Water in outdoor pipes begins to freeze when the temperature reaches 32°F. At 20°F, pipes inside an un- or underheated building are likely to start freezing, and outdoor pipes can freeze overnight.
What does asbestos pipe insulation look like?
Asbestos insulation is almost always a white or light gray color, often appearing as a corrugated paper wrap, plaster, or a cement-like paste. If you suspect the pipe insulation in your home may contain asbestos, call Mr. Rooter Plumbing for information about safely removing the material.