Insulating pipes is an efficient way to protect them against freezing and bursting, which can cause significant property damage. Insulation also saves money on energy costs and prevents condensation buildup on pipes.
Foam insulation is a cost-effective and budget-friendly option to consider for home insulation, yet there may be potential drawbacks associated with using foam in place of fiberglass panels. Before installing it in your home, be aware of these drawbacks before making a decision to go this route.
It’s Not the Ideal Material
Insulating pipes should put thermal performance as its top priority; however, other aspects such as acoustic performance and fire rating must also be taken into account.
Flexible elastomeric closed-cell foam (also referred to as rubber) insulation material is commonly utilized for residential and light commercial piping systems, primarily comprised of flexible butadiene rubber with PVC (NBR/PVC) or EPDM formulations.
Thermal conductivity for various pipe insulation materials varies, measured in watts per meter kelvin. The thickness of insulation required will depend upon both its thermal conductivity and operating temperature of the pipe.
Foam pipe insulation is an attractive choice for residential and light commercial applications, yet not suitable for direct burial due to lack of mechanical strength.
It’s Not Easy to Install
If you’re in the market for pipe insulation for your home, be sure to consider various methods. Foam pipe insulation offers one easy option; its six-foot lengths and adjustable diameter options provide enough coverage to insulate pipes of various sizes.
Traditional foam pipe insulation features a slit along its length that makes it easy to slip over pipes, followed by taping and plastic tie sealing to secure it in place. Conversely, self-sealing foam insulation features an adhesive strip along its open slit that can be unrolled to seal it shut when removed, or press together when closed to create self-sealing properties.
Foam sleeve pipe insulation is another popular solution, typically available in 6-foot lengths to cover longer runs of straight pipe. With self-sealing varieties that help eliminate sweating from surrounding air that leads to corrosion, foam sleeve pipe insulation provides effective corrosion prevention measures and sweat-free pipe operation.
It’s Not Cheap
Foam insulation can be an ideal choice when it comes to protecting pipes from freezing, while simultaneously reducing heat loss by restricting how much air passes through them.
Pex pipe insulation can also help regulate the temperature of water within plumbing systems by trapping air that would normally leak out through pipes – helping you save both energy and money over time. This will reduce energy bills, saving both money and energy resources in the process.
Wrapping cold water supply lines to protect them from freezing is another smart strategy to help avoid costly damages due to expansion or rupture, while protecting from costly expansion or rupture costs.
Polyethylene foam pipe insulation is an inexpensive solution to insulate both domestic hot and cold water lines. This form of pipe wrap features adhesive on one side for simple installation.
It’s Not Effective
There are various techniques available for insulating pipes; some methods are more effective than others.
Foam pipe insulation is an effective way of protecting pipes against freezing in cold weather, as it prevents their contents from turning into ice and expanding, which could otherwise cause severe damage.
Foam pipe insulation may not be the ideal choice when used underground; as it’s not waterproof and may become damaged from moisture damage.
If you’re searching for an efficient pipe insulation option, armorflex pipe insulation could be just what’s needed. Made for use underground and available in 6′ lengths.
Insulation not only helps lower energy costs, but it also provides other advantages. For instance, insulation keeps water temperatures 2-4 degrees higher than uninsulated pipes, meaning less energy will be used to heat it up.