Insulating pipes within the home can provide several benefits, and pipe insulation can be used on both hot and cold pipes.
Reduce heat loss
On hot pipes, pipe insulation will prevent heat from being lost to the surrounding area, keeping the temperature of the water around 2 degrees higher than it would be without the pipe insulation. This means that less energy is required to heat the water, which in turn reduces the cost of your utility bills.
Prevent freezing
On cold pipes, pipe insulation is used to prevent the pipes from freezing during cold weather. Freezing pipes can cause several issues including cracked pipes, flooding and blocked water systems, which can all be costly to fix.
Pipe insulation on cold pipes is particularly important in exterior walls, unheated spaces such as lofts, and in below-ground applications, where pipes are more prone to freezing and harder to access. Insulating the pipe increases the temperature of the pipe, and reduces the extent to which weather conditions can affect them, which reduces the potential for pipes to freeze.
Prevent pipe sweating
Pipe insulation can also be used to eliminate pipe sweating and humidity. When cold pipes come into contact with warm, humid air, the water vapour condenses on the surface of the pipe. This creates condensation, which will drip onto the floor or other surfaces below, creating puddles and damp as well as high humidity, which can lead to mould and rot. The pipe insulation prevents condensation from occurring on the pipe surface, reducing pipe sweating and minimising humidity.
