Best Way To Insulate Pipes In Exterior Wall

If you do have water pipes running through exterior walls you can try to minimize the risk by insulating those pipes while the walls are opened up during remodeling projects.

Best way to insulate pipes in exterior wall.

Installing foam sleeves around the pipes is one way to do this. Add about 1 4 in. If you decide to insulate the pipes afterwards there s no easy alternative to removing the wall covering to get to them. Now my walls are totally bare and the cold and hot water pipes and the drain pipes are running right along the exterior basement walls.

Every gap and compressed batt leaves a path for heat or cold to escape. In open or unheated spaces water standing in the pipes can freeze breaking the pipe and causing water damage or flooding when the pipes thaw. The best time to insulate pipes in the wall is before you cover the walls. For plumbing supply pipes work the full thickness of the insulation behind the pipe to help prevent it from freezing.

Add the vapor barrier photo by ryan benyi. Insulating exposed pipes is an important step in getting your home prepared for the winter. My handyman is concerned that the pipes may freeze in the winter if we don t insulate them. In cold climates a vapor retarder on the insulation s inside face prevents condensation that robs r value and encourages mold.

It s easy to insulate your walls with fiberglass insulation at least when they re open but the job still requires attention to detail to get the maximum benefit. Also make sure the r values of the walls themselves is maximized. Measure and cut the fiberglass batt for an exact fit. What material will be best to use for pipe insulation to ensure these pipes will not freeze in the winter.

Older homes unfortunately are more likely to have plumbing in exterior walls and if moving it isn t an option the best way to protect it is to insulate around the pipes.