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Insulate Your Home’s Pipes to Save Energy

Insulation is one of a home’s most important cost-savings measures when examining how to maintain an energy-efficient home. But in addition to keeping the attic, roof, and walls insulated, there is another area that can benefit from proper insulation: the basement. By insulating water pipes, you’re implementing a simple strategy that improves your home’s efficiency and can result in savings in energy.

With flexible foam sheets, like neoprene or polyethylene roll, it’s easy to create a cushioning wrap that reduces the amount of energy being transferred away from your temperature-conditioned water. Adding insulating foam helps hot water pipes lose less heat, and keeps cold water pipes from attracting condensation. With cold water pipes especially, fiberglass wrappings are a poor choice, as they can absorb moisture. Closed-cell foam however, is non-absorbent and makes for a great insulation material. Even old or worn-out closed-cell foam items around the house like flexible yoga mat can be turned into a beneficial wrapping material. By minimizing the energy lost through piping, conditioning systems have to spend less energy keeping water at the right temperatures. And the less these systems have to work, the less energy used and the less your bill will be.

The other benefit of pipe insulation is in the winter. Adding insulation can help guard against frozen and burst pipes. Insulation is particularly important in homes where pipes are placed near exterior walls, and even more important when basements are unfinished. Insulation against cold air or drafts can help prevent the temp drops that cause pipes to freeze and rupture.

With the benefits of pipe insulation being something you can trace directly to your wallet, wrapping pipes is one of the smartest and easiest DIY improvements you can make to your home.