Why Insulate Outdoor Pipes So they don’t burst

Outdoor pipes are particularly vulnerable to weather elements, and physical damage. Unlike pipes installed indoors, outdoor pipes rarely have a physical covering that protects them from harsh weather conditions like freezing weather.

Since water within the pipes can expand when they freeze, pipes would likely explode and cause massive damage and expenses. Burst and damaged pipes could entail home repiping. Homeowners need to ensure that they have installed proper piping installation that could protect their pipes from freezing avoid having a burst pipe.

How to insulate outdoor pipes

Homeowners can insulate their water pipes by wrapping them with an insulating material. The homeowner can choose from a pipe sleeve, a pipe wrap, or an outdoor faucet cover. All these solutions are usually available at home improvement stores and in online shops. Apart from the insulation material, the homeowner should also have duct tape, expanding spray foam, and a foam caulk rope to help him insulate the outdoor pipes.

(If the homeowner will not be using his outdoor plumbing fixtures, he can drain the water in these pipes by turning off the outdoor valve and draining the remaining water within the pipes. If this is not possible, then he can run the pipes from time to time to prevent water from freezing over. freezing pipes will cause low water pressure.

If the homeowner is not familiar with all these, he can just call for plumbing service, and the plumber can do the insulation for him.

Insulating indoor pipes

Indoor pipes also need insulation. Even if the pipes are enclosed within walls or cabinets, and are protected by the home heating system, they still can freeze. If the temperature drops below zero, the homeowner should prepare the pipes by turning on the faucet to trickle a bit so that water could flow continuously and would not freeze. Maintenance Tips

Dealing with frozen pipes

If the homeowner fails to insulate his pipes and is faced with frozen piping, then he should immediately call a plumbing contractor to help him safely address the issue. Do-It-Yourself (DIY) plumbing repair can end up disastrous, and homeowners should be cautious about doing their plumbing work. This is the same as drain cleaning when it is still better to seek professional repairs than do it on one’s own.