An insulated pipe
There are many types of pipe insulation and virtually all are made to be used on a hot water pipe. By keeping heat in the pipe, they lessen warm-up time to the faucet, and ultimately save you money because less hot water needs to be generated. Inexpensive to buy, easy to use and energy-efficient, pipe insulation is one of the best things you can do for any hot water pipe. Does this Spark an idea?
Types of insulation
There are five basic types of pipe insulation: foam tubing, with and without self-adhesive sticky tape, fiberglass wrap, fiberglass shell tubing covers and regular fiberglass attic-style insulation that can be wrapped around pipes.
All of these can be used with good results. However, the best insulating pipe covers are rated in the R-4 efficiency range. More than likely, a standard foam tube that is about 5/8-inch thick will give you an R-4 insulation rating, and that's the best one to use.
Always use duct tape to secure the insulation to your pipes. Other forms of tape, like masking or electrical, will stretch or break over time, resulting in the loss of efficiency and the need for the insulation to be taped again.
Heating tape
A type of pseudo insulation is called heating tape. Heating tape is essentially a plastic strip, with electrical wires embedded in it, that can be wrapped around pipes and plugged in. It is mainly used in environments, like unheated crawl spaces, where temperatures can fall well below zero. Heating tape will keep a pipe heated to slightly above freezing so that the pipe will remain ice-free.
Don't forget the hot water tank
Insulating your hot water pipes is only half the battle. While you are at it, insulate the hot water tank as well. Hot water tank jackets, or blankets, come in generic sizes that will fit any water heater. Simply wrap them around the tank. All jackets come with self-adhesive strips to secure them to the tank. Simply by insulating the tank, you stand to save between 25 and 40 percent in heating costs. Insulating your pipes is a good idea, but remember to insulate the hot water tank as well.
Tags: water tank, around pipes, Heating tape, insulate water, insulate water tank, Insulating your, pipe insulation
