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Pipe Insulation Benefits

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Exploring the Benefits of Pipe Insulation
If you ask any plumber or home improvement specialist is you should bother insulating the pipes in your basement, the overwhelming answer will be yes, of course you should. However, you may be wondering why you would take the time and expense to wrap them in foam or other material. What are the reasons behind insulating residential pipes and what are the benefits to you?
The benefits for pipe insulation come in three basic forms, all of which have the eventual result of saving you money. Insulation reduces heat loss in hot water pipes, helps prevent freezing of water lines, and prevents condensation from forming on the outside. How does this translate into saving you money?
Keeping the Hot Water Hot …show more content…

Home improvement experts estimate that by properly insulating your hot water pipes, you can turn the temperature of your water heater down about 2 to 4 degrees. This translates into a direct savings on your energy bill. Admittedly, most savings are not huge, but they continue year after year. They often recoup the cost of installing the insulation the first year.
Keeping the Cold Water From Freezing
If you live above the freezing line, then you have probably heard horror stories about water pipes freezing and bursting. This causes hundreds, and sometimes thousands of dollars' worth of damage. Water usually comes from the supply at about 50 degrees Celsius. When it enters your home, it is emerging from the (relatively) warm underground into a below-freezing environment. With little to no water movement, that water freezes solid, expands, and breaks out of the pipe. Insulation stops this thermal transfer, keeping your pipes from freezing and saving you the cost of cleanup.
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