Do You Need To Insulate Hot Water Pipe In Attic

Tape the end seams of each insulation length with insulating tape.

Do you need to insulate hot water pipe in attic.

Commercial water heater with insulation around pipes two hot spots are gaps if you do insulate a hot water line in a house then the heat of the water in that pipe will simply be retained longer. There is just one small issue with this that is frequency of use. Uninsulated piping systems that transport fluids can create water temperature irregularities which ultimately requires additional heating or cooling and associated energy costs to bring the water to operating temperature. With the benefit of pipe insulation the hot water waiting in your pipes will cool down slower.

For domestic hot water many newer codes are requiring a hot water return on demand circulation along with 1 2 insulation on 1 2 piping. Covering the pipe with lengths of foam insulation with adhesive seams will provide protection from the cold and. It is important to insulate pex pipe in an attic particularly in cold weather areas. If your pipes are pex i wouldn t bother doing anything since pex has a built in r value.

Insulating your pipes is never a bad move to make and with piping that s as versatile as pex piping you ll want to do everything you can to protect it. But there is a lot to be said for insulating cold water pipes as well. The intent of the pipe insulation requirements is to reduce temperature changes while fluids are being transported through piping associated with heating cooling or service hot water shw systems thereby saving energy and reducing operating costs. The process for insulating attic pipes is no different than insulating other pipes in your home.

Insulating your pipes reduces heat loss and keeps cold pipes from sweating in warm weather. But not all homeowners know about this easy efficiency booster or the reasons why you might want to insulate your cold water pipes as well. If you have a traditional tank water heater you re already paying to keep that hot water on standby. The catch is that time period is limited.

When insulating pipes in the attic there are some steps you need to follow. If they re copper it ll help a bit with keeping the water cold but the main benefit will be eliminating condensation that accumulates on those pipes and drips into your attic potentially causing water damage. Moisture laden air must be kept from contacting the pipe surface. Insulating hot water pipes in a cold climate is a no brainer.

Yes it is good to insulate the lines as mentioned before if the cold water runs in unconditioned space or your condition space is kept at a higher humidity level. Insulation from the experts. The pipe insulation should be a vapor impermeable foam with all the seams and edges taped tight.