Do You Need To Insulate Hot Water Pipe In Attic

There is just one small issue with this that is frequency of use.

Do you need to insulate hot water pipe in attic.

The process for insulating attic pipes is no different than insulating other pipes in your home. If your pipes are pex i wouldn t bother doing anything since pex has a built in r value. Covering the pipe with lengths of foam insulation with adhesive seams will provide protection from the cold and. 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.

Insulation from the experts. 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. Insulating your pipes reduces heat loss and keeps cold pipes from sweating in warm weather. With the benefit of pipe insulation the hot water waiting in your pipes will cool down slower.

But there is a lot to be said for insulating cold water pipes as well. Moisture laden air must be kept from contacting the pipe surface. When insulating pipes in the attic there are some steps you need to follow. 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.

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. It is important to insulate pex pipe in an attic particularly in cold weather areas. First the obvious insulating your hot water pipes will help keep your hot water hot. 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.

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. The best way to ensure a long lifespan for your piping is to insulate properly which in some cases means insulating with the professionals. The pipe insulation should be a vapor impermeable foam with all the seams and edges taped tight. 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.

The catch is that time period is limited. Insulating hot water pipes in a cold climate is a no brainer. Some like it hot.