As the focus on reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency grows, insulating the pipes within a building has become more important. Although often forgotten about, insulating pipes within your home can not only reduce your energy bills but also help to keep your home warmer and more efficient and avoid issues that can become costly. Table of contents: Constructed from various materials including mineral wool fibre or Phenolic Foam with a foil covering. Foil-faced pipe insulation is usable on high-temperature pipes at temperatures up to 700C. Insulation prevents heat loss from pipes thus saving money.

Pipe wrap insulation can also be manufactured from a variety of materials but is installed by wrapping it around the pipe like tape, instead of fitting over as a solid form, like foam insulation. One form of pipe wrap insulation is foil-faced bubble membrane insulation, which is supplied in a tape form. A good choice to reduce the potential of cold pipes from freezing, but can also be used to retain the heat in hot pipes. Polyethylene foam insulation is one of the most popular forms of pipe insulation available. Polyethylene tubing is a closed-cell foam pipe insulation that is used in a range of different applications, including insulating central heating pipework to reduce heat loss, and in loft spaces to prevent freezing. The polyethylene pipe insulation generally consists of a hollow foam tube with a slit down one side to allow it to fit over existing pipework and is considered a great choice for low cost and good performance. Rubber pipe insulation When you reach the end of a pipe or the end of the insulation, simply tape the insulation into place.As hot or cold water has quite a long way to travel throughout a building, it is crucial it maintains its required temperature as much as possible. During this process, it passes many spaces where additional heating or cooling is unavailable, meaning non-insulated pipes can heat up or cool down – with all the negative consequences that can occur as a result of poorly insulated or un-insulated services. To ensure you have the correct size of pipe insulation, measure the diameter of a visible section of pipework. Choose the size of pipe insulation that is most suitable for your pipework diameter. Then measure the length of pipes that you’re going to insulate, to calculate how much insulation you require. If reaching a 90-degree sharp bend, take the knife and cut the pipe insulation at a 45-degree angle. Then put the two pieces of insulation over each side of the 90-degree bend in the pipework, and twist them so that the two ends fit together flush. Then use duct tape or insulating tape to secure them together. Foil Covered Pipe Insulation is water repellant but should be used with an additional waterproof covering. When used in the open, a protective coating such as PIB is recommended for this.

High-quality p ipe insulation in HVAC systems maintains the optimum temperature of fluids or gasses transported around a building or facility.When installing pipe wrap insulation, it is crucial to ensure that no areas are left exposed, and the insulation doesn’t slip as you move along the pipe.

Once you reach a corner or bend in the pipework, there are a couple of options for installing the pipe insulation. 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 freezingIt is important to ensure all areas of the pipe network are insulated so that the pipe insulation is effective. Often there are gaps where pipes run through a wall or floor, and these can contribute to a loss of heat or increased risk of freezing. Therefore we’d recommend filling these gaps wherever possible, using caulk, small sections of pipe insulation or even spray foam insulation. Effective insulation means HVAC systems don’t have to work as hard to maintain the operating temperature of the unit, thereby reducing energy consumption. To install pipe wrap insulation, tape one end of the insulation to the pipe. Then wrap the insulation around the pipe, aiming for tight spiral loops with overlaps of half an inch or more.