You may be thinking, isn’t it a little early to be talking about insulating anything? After all, insulation is usually reserved for winter problems, not summer ones. The thing is, insulation for your home and its components is important on a year-round basis, not just for the winter months. And the same goes for your home’s water pipes.
It’s Good for Hot and Cold Water
The purpose of any insulation is to slow the transfer of heat. When it comes to your water pipes, this can work in two ways: uninsulated hot water pipes during the winter can lose anywhere from 2-4 degrees consistently that has to be recouped by your hot water heater. During the summer, our very hot weather can increase the temperature of your cold water, forcing you to run water longer to get the cool water you need for your home. However, if your water pipes are insulated, the water inside the pipes will retain its temperature, taking this extra stress off your plumbing system. Insulation also protects both pipes from freezing during the winter months.
How Do I Insulate My Pipes?
It’s pretty easy to insulate your home’s water pipes, and if you have any trouble, you can always call for the help of an expert. Here are the basic steps to insulating your home’s water pipes:
- Measure the length of pipe you want to insulate
- Cut the pipe sleeve (pipe insulation) to match the length
- Place the pipe sleeve on the pipe so that the seam in the sleeve faces down
- Secure the pipe sleeve onto the pipe with duct tape or a cable tie approximately every two feet
Insulating your water pipes can help save you energy, keep your pipes from freezing during the winter months and make your water system more efficient. If you need help with this project, call the experts at D’Spain Sales & Service, Inc., and schedule an appointment for your home in Fredericksburg, TX.
