Winter is in full swing. If you live in a colder climate, hot water feels much more valuable when the thermometer drops, and unfortunately your utility bills might reflect that. One quick-and-easy home project can help shave a bit off that bill, and still be just as effective when winter rolls around again.
It’s easy to insulate your pipes yourself.
Insulating water pipes is a project most people can handle. It requires just a few materials and a little bit of know-how.
You’ll need a few supplies to start: a tape measure, a pair of scissors or a box cutter, duct tape or zip ties and foam pipe insulation. If you have a gas water heater, insulation on pipes close to the flue should be fiberglass. If you’re using fiberglass insulation, wear gloves and long sleeves, as fiberglass can irritate your skin.
Once you’ve gathered your materials, here’s what you’ll do next:
1. Measure the pipes to be insulated
While insulating any pipe will help, insulating the three feet closest to the water heater is most beneficial. Use the tape measure to measure the straight segments of the pipes to be insulated.
2. Cut the sleeve insulation to size
Using your scissors or box cutter, (carefully!) cut the insulation to fit the pipes.
3. Wrap the sleeve insulation around the pipes
Just pop it on by inserting the pipe into the open side of the insulation sleeve.
4. Fasten the insulation around the pipe
Wrap zip ties or duct tape around the pipe at one-foot intervals to keep it snug to the pipe.
That’s really all there is to it. The simple project provides modest savings of about $10 a year, according to the Department of Energy, but can offset its costs in just a year.
Looking for other ways to save energy this winter? Find out how to adjust your thermostat to save, how to use your ceiling fan to keep your house warmer and how to better seal your house against the cold.
