6 Types of Outdoor Pipe Insulation & Applications
Although it is not necessary to worry about investing in pipe insulation for pipes in your house, you will need to purchase insulation for pipes that are located in exterior walls to prevent pipe bursts during the winter season. Unlike pipes that are connected to your fixtures and appliances, exterior pipes are exposed to extremely cold temperatures. To help you prevent the formation of cracks in your pipes, we have compiled a list of 6 types of outdoor pipe insulation and their applications.
Table of Contents
Types of Pipe Insulation & Benefits
To prevent a pipe burst in your house, you will need to install flexible foam insulation with rubber tape that is designed to be wrapped around the exterior of your pipes. Other types of outdoor pipe insulation include bubble-film pipe-wrap, natural cotton insulation, and foam and foil pipe-wrap. Exterior pipe insulation is designed to maintain a stable temperature in small sections of pipes and joints behind walls or ceilings.
Rubber Insulation
Rubber outdoor pipe insulation is designed to expand and contract to accommodate variations in temperature and moisture. This type of insulation is popular because of its low price and durability. Installing rubber insulation to your pipes is a simple way to prevent heat loss when hot water is transported to different fixtures and appliances in your house.
Fiberglass Pipe Wraps
Fiberglass pipe wraps are equipped with fiberglass and a layer of plastic that is designed to trap moisture. This kind of outdoor pipe insulation is used in areas of the country with cold climates to prevent damage to pipes. Insulating your water pipes with fiberglass sleeves will help prevent the formation of cracks and holes in your pipes.
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Glass Wool Insulation
Glass wool is manufactured with filaments of glass fibre that are connected. This kind of water pipe insulation is commonly used in commercial buildings to distribute hot water or alleviate noise.
Polyethylene Foam Insulation
Unlike rubber insulation, polyethylene pipe wraps are not designed to expand and contract to temperature fluctuations. Polyethylene insulation is manufactured with incisions that can be opened or closed when you are attaching it to water and sewer pipes. This type of insulation is available with self-sealing adapters.
Foil & Foam Insulation
Foil and foam insulation can be quickly installed by pushing it into a proper location on your water pipes. The outdoor pipe insulation is equipped with durable aluminum foil and flexible foam.
Mineral Wool
Mineral wool insulation is assembled with strings of mineral fibre that are integrated together. Mineral wool is utilized to insulate water pipes in commercial facilities because of its tolerance to hot temperatures. In addition, this type of outdoor pipe insulation is resistant to fire.
How to Install Exterior Pipe Insulation to Water Lines Behind Walls
1.) If you need to remove your drywall for a remodel project, this is an excellent opportunity to add insulation to your pipes. The first step to installing flexible foam insulation is to use glue or tape the end of the insulation strip to your water or sewer pipe.
2.) Cover the water pipe with the insulation in a circular manner. Do not leave an area of the outdoor pipe exposed. If you run out of exterior pipe insulation, use a second piece of pipe wrap insulation.
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Apply a Pipe Sleeve to Your Water & Sewer Pipes
3.) Do you need to cover a long pipe that is 4 to 5 feet? You will need to order a foam or rubber pipe sleeve that is engineered to project your water and sewage pipes. Depending on your climate and pipe material, you will be required to purchase a pipe sleeve with a diameter that ranges from ½ to 1 inch.
4.) A pipe sleeve features a miniature incision that can be opened when you are installing it to a water pipe. Use your hands or a tool to expand the opening of the sleeve. Next, drop the sleeve on the pipe to prevent it from freezing in the winter. Use the insulation strip, glue, or tape to close the incision on the pipe. Once the direction of the pipe starts to change in the wall, you will need to use a cut the pipe sleeves to fit directly over pipe joints and corners.
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5.) When you reach the end of a water pipe, utilize a knife or sharp tool to cut the outdoor pipe insulation sleeve. Lastly, attach the seams where the two pipe sleeves connect.
Advantages of Purchasing Pipe Insulation
Eliminate Corrosion
As the hot water is distributed through your pipes to each fixture, a thin layer of condensation will start to form on the exterior of your water and sewer lines. Unfortunately, the excess moisture can cause the formation of rust on your pipes. To prevent deterioration, it’s important to invest in outdoor pipe insulation that is designed to regulate the temperature of water behind your walls.
Reduce Noise
It is not abnormal for your pipes to produce strange noises as water and waste are circulated through them. Insulating your water pipes with foam is a straightforward way to eliminate noise in your house, apartment, or condo. Pipe insulation is engineered to minimize sounds that are caused by the circulation of objects in your pipes.
Prevent Frozen Pipes
Once the outside temperature decreases below the freezing point of water, the water in your pipes can become frozen in a small amount of time. When the water in your pipes starts to freeze, it will expand and cause cracks to form. Although pipe insulation cannot always prevent the formation of ice in your pipes, it will decrease the probability of a pipe burst in your home. Once you install insulation on your water pipes, it will take a longer amount of time for the water in your pipes to freeze.
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Emergency Plumbing Services
If you need help choosing pipe insulation for your water pipes, give our team a call at (732) 201-3305 to receive assistance. We offer emergency plumbing services to homes in New Jersey such as water heater repair, sump pump installation, and water line replacement. We offer fast and dependable plumbing services in areas of New Jersey such as Brick, Tom’s River, Middletown, Trenton, and Jackson.
