The most wonderful time of the year brings with it the intense cold that can freeze pipes, cause ice to expand, and burst pipes, leading to a furious flooding of your property. Take it from the plumbing experts at Mr. Rooter Plumbing: dealing with flooding during sub-freezing temperatures is not fun. Fortunately, you do not necessarily have to deal with that. Insulating your pipes can significantly reduce the risk and it’s easy. In this article, we will go over some quick and easy ways to insulate outdoor water pipes. If you have any questions or if you would rather hire an emergency plumber, then call Mr. Rooter Plumbing to get in touch with a live representative.
Pipes to Focus On
In short, you want to insulate any pipe that is exposed to the air outside. This include pipes in the attic, garage, basement, crawl space, and exterior walls. You would be wise to also insulate outdoor faucets.
Insulating with Foam Pipe Sleeves
For long, straight pipes, the quick and easy option is to use foam pipe sleeves. These are usually available at your local hardware store and are sold in increments of six feet in length. The diameter of the foam pipe sleeve will vary, so it is important to get the dimensions of your pipe before heading out to the store.
The installation process is straight-forward. Measure the pipe and cut the foam pipe sleeve to fit the length of the pipe. You can also save the cutting for after the sleeve is on the pipe. Line the foam pipe sleeve along the pipe and open the sleeve slit to “hug” around the pipe. Then, seal the foam pipe sleeve with an adhesive or duct tape.
Insulating with Pipe-Wrap
Pipe-wrap is another product designed to be installed quickly and easily. While the foam pipe sleeve is ideal for longer pipes, the pipe-wrap works better for insulating short length pipes. There are different types on the market, but they are all functionally the same: an insulating material self-adheres to the pipe.
To install pipe-wrap on an exposed pipe, start at one end of the pipe. Attach the loose end of the pipe-wrap to the end of the pipe and wrap it around the pipe in spiraling loops. Make sure to cover the entirety of the exposed pipe. Finally, cut the end of the pipe-wrap when the whole pipe has been covered.
Insulating Outdoor Faucets
The tip of the faucet will allow cold air to enter into the pipes, potentially freezing them. Protect outdoor faucets, and the pipes, with a faucet cover. These will also protect your faucet from falling ice chunks.
Detach any hose from the faucet and place the rubber loop of the faucet cover around the spigot. Position the cover over the spigot and tighten the side lock of the cover, making sure that there are no air gaps in it.
Hire A Certified Plumber
If you want to really ensure your pipes are protected, then consider hiring a certified plumber. The experts at Mr. Rooter Plumbing are always ready to help.