There’s no concern unless there’s moisture present. Fiberglass presents more of a mold trap than closed-cell foam. Keep in mind that you’d have to wrap the pipes carefully enough that no airflow can move around the insulation.
Does compressing fiberglass insulation reduce R-value?
When you compress fiber glass batt insulation, the R-value per inch goes up, but the overall R-value goes down because you have less inches or thickness of insulation.
Can you mix fiberglass and cellulose insulation?
Yes, you can mix fiberglass and cellulose insulations. Installing cellulose insulation over fiberglass insulation is known as capping and can save you money and time instead of removing and replacing the former material.
Can you put fiberglass insulation around hot water pipes?
3. Fiberglass Insulation. Fiberglass insulation, combined with a special plastic or foil wrapping to keep it in place, can be used to insulate both hot and cold water pipes.
What is the best type of insulation for water pipes?
For many residential plumbing applications a PE pipe insulation product like Tubolit® and Tundra® is the perfect option. Economical and easy to install, PE foam insulation will prevent pipes from freezing and keep hot pipes hot and cold pipes cold.
Can I mix insulation types?
So, if you want all the benefits each type of insulation offers, you can mix the two! For example, the three insulation materials that people will purchase for excellent sound dampening and relatively low price are mineral wool, cellulose, and fiberglass. The problem all three suffer is air-permeability.
Can you double up insulation?
Doubling the thickness of insulation will double the insulation’s R-value, cutting heat loss in half. Each time the insulation layer is doubled in thickness, this rule applies.
Is foam or fiberglass insulation better for pipes?
Pipe insulation materials, such as fiberglass, are best for pipes exposed to hot temperatures, while foam and rubber are a better fit for cold water pipe lines but work in hot pipes as well.
Does pipe insulation need to be tight?
3. Choose your insulation: Foil and fiberglass insulation must be wrapped around the pipe with a ½” overlap in order to fully seal. However, both are effective in keeping your pipes from freezing.
What R-value do I need for pipe insulation?
Minimum Recommended R-Value
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends insulating hot water pipes with a minimum R-value of 3. However, according to the Bonneville Power Administration, if you’re insulating with fiberglass batt insulation, a minimum R-value of 7 is recommended.
Can you mix Batt insulation and blown insulation?
You can mix different types of blown-in insulation. Rather than removing and replacing previously installed material, you can blow in the same (or a different) kind of insulation to save money and time. You can also mix blown-in insulation with rolled fiberglass insulation instead of replacing it.
Can you stack insulation batts?
Yes. For example, two R-19 batts can be stacked on each other to create R-38 insulation. You also can add loose-fill insulation on top of a bottom layer of batts.
Can you put blown in insulation over batt insulation?
If the vapor retarder is correctly positioned, that is under the insulation directly against the ceiling, you can blow insulation over the batts. In fact, the batt and blow approach is a recommended and common technique for overcoming the endemic problems of batt installation.
Can you add insulation on top of existing insulation?
Yes! You can absolutely new insulation over old insulation… as long as it isn’t wet. Energy Star advises as follows: “If it… appears that the insulation [is wet or] has previously been wet, you should look for the cause and repair the problem to prevent a reoccurrence.
Is batt or blown insulation better?
Practical and durable: When comparing batt insulation vs. blown cellulose, keep in mind that batt insulation is a more effective thermal barrier. The thermal performance of loose fill insulation will not last for the life of the building. Most blown-in insulation materials will settle and lose R-value over time.
Can I lay insulation over insulation?
Many specialists will install new installation on top of the old and they will try to lay it crossways, if the old insulation is to joist depth. That way they will cover any holes or gaps that there may have been in the old insulation. This gives you more insulation and therefore less heat lost!
How long does Fibreglass Insulation last?
between 80 and 100 years
But you may be surprised to know that fiberglass insulation can last anywhere between 80 and 100 years. As long as the material is not exposed to too much moisture and is not broken by human interference, it should be fine.
Should you remove old insulation before putting new?
Expert contractors that specialize in insulation advise that removing old fiberglass insulation is best before installing new cellulose insulation because of possible mildew, mold, or rodent excrement.
