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Dear Pablo: I had a home energy audit done and they recommended insulating my pipes. The estimated cost was quite high and I wonder, is it really worth it?
Pablo Paster
Ask Pablo: Is It Really Worth Insulating My Pipes?
Seeded on Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:32 PM EST
Article Source: TreeHugger- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (11)
A few years ago I had a home energy audit done as well and pipe insulation was one of the recommendations. The primary benefits include reducing the convective heat loss from pipes, increasing the delivered water temperature by around 4 degrees, and allowing you to turn the water heater down, which saves energy.
- 2 votes
#1 - Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:33 PM ESTthe biggest factor in pipe insulating, is if the pipes are accessable or if they are buried beneath sheetrock.. many homes are sheetrocked from where the pipes leave the water heater and enter the wall all the way to where they exit the wall and attach under the sink.. making only about3' accessable without breaking sheetrock/ requiring patching and plastering.. and on any finished walls.. the entire wall would need to be resurfaced to hide the access
#2 - Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:03 AM ESTmaking only about3' accessable without breaking sheetrock/ requiring patching and plastering.. and on any finished walls.. the entire wall would need to be resurfaced to hide the access
The resurfacing issue depends greatly on the location of the pipes. If they run behind the cupboards of the kitchen, for example, this is a less significant issue. Carefully cutting the sheetrock and removing it intact allows for one to simply place it back into the original cut and fasten it to the studs. Being behind the cupboards eliminates the need to reduce the visibility of the work and cuts costs.
- 1 vote
I have heard pros and cons about insulating pipes .. of course it is obvious why one should.. the negative is copper pipes can corrode and or pit due to the lack of air flow.. Of course cold water pipes can condense / sweat during the warmer months..
- 2 votes
The negative for me is the time and effort that it takes to do it. It is surely not worth my time or effort to save a measely 10 dollars a year. That is not even enough to buy me a coke once a month. I think I will go with shutting the water off while lathering. That has shown to actually decrease your water bill significantly. Also unplugging items you are not using will save you a bundle, like lamps in spare bedrooms, or night lights. Even though they are not on, they do incur energy loss, so those might be better options for me.
- 1 vote
IF a person has an electric or gas water heater by turning the thermostat/water temp down to 120-125.. one can save ..IF one has a dishwasher..usually they have a selection to turn the heater on during wash..it is cheaper to activate that (140F-160F) to sanitize, than it is to have a 40-80 gallon tank 140-160. The 'safety' valve in the shower to make sure someone does not get scalded doesn't save money.. it just protects against burns.. It does save by turning it down at the source.. Wrapping the tank has its pros and cons too.. some say wrap it others say it cuts short the life of the tank..
Another savings in the long run ..when it comes to water heater tanks is the rod in it that should be changed every so often.. what this rod protects is the inside lining of the tank.. if it isn't replaced every so often the tank does not last that long...and that is expense that no one I know would want to waste money on..
Wrapping pipes specifically the hot water.. wrapping cold pipes isn't needed..and crazy to do unless they go by an outside window .. the hot water pipes saves money.. One thing might not save a lot.. but all of the minor things together do. Insulating the ceiling of the basement, extra insulation in the outside walls of the home, extra insulation in the attack.. and changing the thermostats that go up to 78 .. has saved me around $250 a month. I have an all electric home 2,300 sq ft.. and I use to pay around $600 a month from around November till March..since they installed of this through Mass Save (utility audit).. about 15 years or so ago...
Also.. instead of using a dryer.. hang the close out.. Instead of using the oven all the time I use the BBQ.. like I mentioned.. it isn't any one thing.. it is the total of all of them.
- 1 vote
I tried insulating my own pipes and to be honest, perhaps I took it out of context, but honestly it affected my sex life tremendously. I had a very difficult time explaining to my significant other why I had 2 inch thick insulation wound around my testicles, needless to say , I have been alone for way to long, (Quietly sobbing) why cant i find someone who understands me?
- 1 vote
#3 - Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:00 AM ESTomg.. THOSE pipes are better with free air-flow and cooler temperatures... but not too cold to avoid shrinkage,
- 1 vote
I suggest a cotton boxer brief. It should give the "pipe" stability and airflow, with a little wiggle room left over. Plus no tape from the 2" insulation to rip the ball hair out. Trust me, this is a good solution.
- 1 vote
This is completely out of focus on what the topic is.. this entire communication and responses.
- 1 vote
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