Is Insulating Your Water Pipes a Good Idea?
Insulating the hot water pipes in your home reduces heat loss and can increase the water temperature by up to 4º F. Water pipe insulation is a cost-effective maintenance procedure that takes very little time to complete, yet represents a nice cost savings by letting you lower your water temperature setting.
How to Protect Your Water Pipes
Yes, the North Houston, Texas area is known across the country for its hot and humid weather, but it has its share of cold temperatures, as well. It isn’t snow that causes pipe problems, but wind and cold air. Wind chill is always colder than the outside temperature and when it reaches a certain low degree, can harm unprotected piping.
Here are some easy steps you can take to make sure your home’s hot and cold pipes are well-insulated and protected.
- All pipes, hose bibs, and sprinklers exposed to outdoor elements should be properly wrapped and insulated. Polyethylene foam insulation is the most popular and effective item to use. It will protect your pipes from wind, rain, water, and cold air.
- Inspect and repair all outdoor leaks, checking for leaky hose bibs. During cold weather leaking, water will freeze all the way up to a bib and get back into the pipe, causing severe damage.
- Do not put antifreeze in your pipes unless it’s recommended by a professional, as it’s environmentally harmful.
- Wrap all outdoor spigots and valves, and drain your garden hoses. Any plumbing fixture that allows water into it can break when exposed to colder temperatures.
Finally, take steps to minimize the risk of frozen pipes and make sure you have the right amount of insulation in your home’s attic. Attic insulation keeps warm air inside during colder months, which means your home’s pipes stay warmer, too.
Do you live in The Woodlands, TX or the surrounding areas? To learn more about water pipe insulation, the repair and maintenance services we provide or to schedule a routine home inspection with Bradbury Brothers Services, contact us today.
