Insulating Your Plumbing Ahead of Winter
The temperatures in Urbana, IL, can get quite chilly in the winter months. The average temperature in the winter is just below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s not uncommon for temperatures to drop into the teens, especially at night and in the northern part of the state. When it comes to your plumbing system, it’s incredibly important that cold air doesn’t cause water in your pipes to freeze. This can lead to a plumbing disaster and extensive structural damage. Insulation is one way that you prevent plumbing issues in the winter months.
What Is Plumbing Insulation?
The various pipes and plumbing in your home can have insulation installed around them to help keep water in the pipes from dropping in temperature. This is a great way to boost the efficiency of your plumbing system. It’s also optimal for achieving hot water through every fixture and faucet. Insulation comes in a variety of materials and types. The product we choose for your home will depend on your budget, accessibility, and hot water needs.
Different Types of Insulation
There are several types of plumbing insulation that we can use in your Urbana home. Polyethylene foam tubing is cut lengthwise and can be easily placed around your pipes. It can be cut to fit the size and shape of your setup. This is one of the more affordable plumbing insulation options you can consider if you’re on a tight budget but want to reap the benefits of this process.
Rubber insulation is another option that is commonly used in both indoor and outdoor scenarios. It does an excellent job at preventing temperature fluctuations.
Fiberglass batting is very affordable and can be wrapped around pipes for additional insulation. However, it does allow some airflow if it’s not installed correctly. We recommend having our team take care of plumbing insulation for you to ensure it performs as intended.
Spray foam insulation is ideal for areas that are hard to reach or experience a lot of fluctuations in temperature. The product is sprayed into place and will then cure to a hard surface. It fills all the little gaps around your plumbing to provide optimal insulation.
Preventing Damage
When you have insulation installed around your pipes, this prevents expansion and contraction as the water in your pipes goes from warm to cold. This constant expansion and contraction can cause damage over time, making your pipes more prone to breaking. Even a simple plumbing leak can cause substantial damage. It’s also common for mold to grow in areas where moisture is present. Unfortunately, a lot of homeowners don’t realize that they even have a plumbing leak occurring until damage has already occurred, only calling for professional pipe repair after it’s too late. Small drips here and there can take a long time to be noticed. It’s ideal to prevent this scenario from occurring in the first place.
Interior Temperature
It’s important to note that the temperature in your home has a big impact on how likely it is that your pipes will freeze. If you keep your home set to 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, the risk decreases. However, there may still be a risk if you have a very drafty attic or basement. These are the areas of the home that benefit the most from insulation.
If you’re going to be leaving your home for an extended period, make sure you maintain a safe interior temperature while you are away. You should also take precautionary measures like leaving cupboards and vanities open if there is plumbing inside. This allows for warm air to flow around the pipes and prevents freezing.
If you would like to learn more about having insulation installed around the pipes and plumbing in your Urbana home, reach out to our team here at Dogtown Heating, Air & Plumbing. In addition to this service, we also take care of heating and cooling equipment installation, repair, and routine maintenance. Our plumbing services include installation, repairs, water heater maintenance, drain clearing, and much more.
Contact Dogtown Heating, Air & Plumbing today to schedule an appointment.
