Why It’s a Good Idea to Insulate Your Garage Plumbing

Nobody likes exploding pipes. They may sound like an extreme problem, but it’s more common than you think.

It’s also a massive and expensive problem for anyone left to deal with the aftermath. You could be faced with replacing the actual pipes, and anything damaged by leaking water.

Greenbuildingadvisor.com recently said that, “Insulating the hot waters pipes in your house is something of a no-brainer.”

“Why let the heat escape willy-nilly? Pipe insulation is inexpensive, and the project is one that any homeowner could finish on a Saturday afternoon.

So let’s take a look at how to protect those pipes during the cold months.

Why should I insulate my garage plumbing?

It’s really a matter of risk versus reward. A little bit of prevention completely eliminates the risk of a very costly and inconvenient mess.

“As you ready your house for the colder months ahead, don’t forget about your water system,” wrote Emily Burns Morgan at BobVila.com.

“When water freezes, it expands. So if the temperature of your pipes drops below 32 degrees, even for a short period, you run the risk of a pipe fracture or worse.”

How to insulate my garage plumbing

It’s a surprisingly simple and quick process, even if you’ve never insulated before.

Take it from an expert. In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey explains how to prevent frozen pipes.

And here is the step-by-step guide.

1. Seal air-leaking holes and cracks around home with expanding foam sealant or silicone caulk.
2. Use foam-rubber pipe insulation to protect exposed pipes from cold.
3. Slip foam-rubber insulation over pipe, peel away backing strips, then press the adhesive surfaces together.
4. At pipe corners, miter-cut the ends of the foam-rubber insulation with scissors, then secure the corner joint with foam tape.
5. Before attempting to thaw a frozen pipe, open the faucet.
6. Locate ice blockage, then use heat gun or blow dryer to thaw frozen pipe; don’t use propane torch or other open flame.
7. If the frozen section of pipe is inaccessible, use an electric pipe-thawing machine.
8. Find the exposed ends of the pipe, then place one clamp from the machine onto each pipe; the machine will warm the pipe and eventually melt the blockage.

Keep all that heat inside

Of course, you want to make sure that your garage is well insulated, so your heat isn’t escaping nooks and crannies. This might also include getting a new and more energy efficient garage door. We can help you with that.

Atlas Overhead Door Sales provide beautiful, contemporary doors by Garaga, one of the most trusted names in the industry, and we can help you find the door that best suits your needs.

Browse through our variety of residential garage doors, or even design your own online with our handy tool. Then, get a free quote, and upgrade your garage!