Most home maintenance projects save you money over time. But only a few of them produce an immediate and measurable return. Maintaining your home's energy envelope is one such project. The floors, walls, ceilings, doors, and windows of your home combine to make up its energy envelope. When the energy envelope is properly maintained, your personal comfort level reaps the benefits by better protecting you from the elements. And your wallet also notices a difference when you aren't paying such high heating and cooling bills.
Pipes
Insulating pipes and ducts can save you time and money in the long run. Putting insulation around all accessible water pipes saves energy, prevents freezing during most moderate to medium chills, and reduces condensation when pipes flow through attics and crawlspaces (see Figure 1).
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Figure 1: Insulated pipes. |
Properly maintained pipe insulation can be cheap insurance. A pipe that bursts in the crawlspace is no joy to experience or repair, but it's bearable. A pipe that bursts in the attic is an altogether different story. An attic burst can literally destroy a substantial portion of your home before the leak is stopped. What a mess.
Be sure that the tape, which holds the insulation in place, is in good shape, and make sure the insulation is still in good condition, as well. If either the insulation or the tape crumbles to the touch, the material should be replaced. If the insulation is crumbling, removal requires nothing more than a gentle tug. With the insulation removed, all you have to do is slip a new piece in place.
Pre-formed, tubular, foam pipe insulation is slit lengthwise to insure easy installation. All you have to do is open the slit and lay the insulation onto the pipe. Pipe insulation comes in 6-foot lengths and is easy to cut with scissors or a razor knife.
 | If you live in an area where temperatures frequently reach below freezing, and you have installed pipe heaters (wire or tape), don't insulate these pipes without first getting the approval of the company that manufactures the pipe heaters. By the way, pipe heaters also deteriorate. If you see signs of deterioration or fraying, it may be time for replacement. |
Heat ducts
As with other kinds of insulation, the material that surrounds your heat ducts reduces energy costs while improving the effectiveness of your central heating and cooling system. It also helps prevent unwanted condensation in attics and crawlspaces, thereby reducing the chance for mold, mildew, and the foul odors associated with them.
Insulation is wrapped around and around the duct in a corkscrew fashion (see Figure 2). Air currents, rodents, house movement, and vibration in the heating system can cause the insulation to loosen and fall away from the ducting. Reattaching or adjusting the insulation to cover the ducting is a good thing. While you're there, add an extra layer. It couldn't hurt.
 | Figure 2: Heat duct insulation. |
 | A nail can be "stitched" into insulation to hold it together. This is done in the same way that a seamstress uses a sewing pin to hold two pieces of fabric together. |
A thin layer of plastic, which acts as a vapor barrier, surrounds modern insulated heat ducts. The plastic prevents moisture from attacking the insulation and the ducting. Isn't plastic wonderful! Again, rodents, house movement, and sloppy workers can damage the thin plastic vapor barrier. Plastic sheeting (any kind) and metal tape can be used to fix the barrier.
Metal tape looks like duct tape only shiny. Metal tape won't rot in moist areas where duct tape can. Actually, for small tears, just tape over the damaged area in the same way you would cover a cut with an adhesive bandage. For areas of larger damage, use a piece of plastic as a patch held in place with metal tape. The tape should seal all four sides of the patch.
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