5 Tips to Insulate Pex Pipe

In some countries, during cold or winter weather, PEX pipes exposed to the open air tend to be damaged.

Although it is expensive to find a repairman, sometimes you wonder, can I insulate my PEX pipes myself?

The answer is definitely yes, and in this article, we will discuss how you should properly insulate pex pipes.

How is Pex pipe insulated?

What is a Pex pipe?

Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) pipe is made from a flexible plastic that is typically used in water pipes. Many plumbers use this type of pipe as a alternative to copper and galvanized steel.

Nowadays, PEX pipes are used by home hobbyists to repair their main water lines that have become leaky. Aside from the flexibility of PEX, using this pipe does not require glue or a standard medium to bond it to water lines.

Instead, you are required to use only crimp rings or Crich clamps, and either of these two is already sufficient to secure the pipe for water pressure control.

In Asian countries, PEX pipes are usually seen in holiday homes for rent and apartments.

Additionally, PEX tubing is available in blue and red. In general, these colors are useful for keeping track of the hot and cold water in your new home. Some manufacturers also produce white PEX pipe for those who design their homes aesthetically.

Note that using PEX pipe and connecting it directly to tankless water heaters is not recommended. If you want to do this, you may first want to use a pipe extender that is at least 18 inches from your water heater.

History of Pex pipes

It was in 1968 when polyethylene materials have been discovered to help in the production of pipes. The new plastic was first used for radiant floor heating systems in the US in the 1980s. The flexible tube is implanted in a concrete slab, and hot water passes through it to heat the slab and radiate heat to the rest of the room. The radiant floor heating industry continues to favor PEX piping.

Early PEX water systems were the subject of complaints when the fittings connecting the pipes failed and leaked. This problem was solved by better fittings, which led to an increase in the popularity of PEX. Over 60% of residential water supply systems installed in new homes today use PEX.

Different types of Pex

Different types of Pex

PEX is offered in a range of lengths, from 10-foot sections for quick repairs to 500-foot rolls for installing a home’s entire water supply system.

PEX pipe comes in diameters from 3/8 to 1 inch, and thanks to the color coding, it’s easy to tell what each pipe is used for.

Although there are three types of PEX, different colors don’t always indicate the differences. Instead, it helps you distinguish which lines carry hot water and which carry cold water.

  • Hot water flows through a red PEX pipe.
  • Cold water runs through a blue PEX pipe.
  • Both hot and cold water can be used with a white PEX pipe.
  • Like white PEX pipe, gray PEX pipe is suitable for both hot and cold water.

How to determine if you need to insulate your PEX pipes

Sometimes you might wonder, should I insulate my PEX pipe?

In general, a PEX pipe that is exposed to the outside or in uninsulated areas should be insulated. When temperatures drop below 20 degrees F, PEX pipe still stands a chance freezing and bursting.

Additionally, rigid pipes such as copper, PVC, or CPVC can withstand cold temperatures better than PEX pipes, which can and will freeze in cold weather. However, the former materials are not collapsible unlike the latter.

If you’re going to buy PEX pipe, make sure you get a warranty. If not, you should keep this in mind as this is one of the reasons you should insulate your PEX.

How to determine if you need to insulate your PEX pipes

Of course, you wouldn’t want to buy another PEX pipe in case of damage, would you?

Rule of thumb: you don’t you must insulate the PEX pipes if it passes through interior walls or insulated exterior walls.

However, if you live in a region with cold winters, you should insulate any exposed pipes that are outside or inside unheated places such as a basement, crawl space, or attic.

Furthermore, insulation is vital when installing PEX pipes, as doing so without it could have adverse effects.

It is more resistant to temperature changes than other commonly used materials. It is made of flexible pipes, which makes it less efficient as a conductor of heat and cold than metal materials.

Correct way to insulate a Pex pipe at home

If you want to insulate your PEX without calling a professional, you can try the following steps and techniques below:

1. Where does your PEX piping go?

The first thing you should do if you want to insulate your PEX pipes is to identify their locations and where the pipes pass.

This is generally easy if you know the lot of your new home. Hot water pipes should, if possible, be routed through the inner walls and not the outer walls of the pipe. If the pipes are inside your home, you are encouraged to keep the interior temperature warm to prevent freezing.

2. If your PEX pipes are exposed outside

Hot water pipes outside are sometimes unavoidable. Outdoor faucets and other purposes require running cold water pipes.

A minimum of R3 pipe insulation is required for any PEX pipe that is exposed to the elements, and R4 or higher pipe insulation is required in some colder areas.

3. Consider turning on an indoor faucet

It’s a good idea to turn on a cold water faucet indoors during a hard freeze, which usually occurs in subzero temperatures, so that a trickle of water can come out.

Finally, the ease and speed of freezing will be slower for the flowing water, and the water pressure on the pipe walls is also reduced as a result.

4. Installation of winter plumbing for holiday homes, basements and access spaces

In general, if you own a second vacation home, it’s really true that you don’t go there in the colder months.

If so, you may want to consider winterization of sanitary installations by draining the entire plumbing system, including the water heater, toilets, basements, access spaces and under sinks. They are generally susceptible to PEX pipe damage during the winter.

If the temperature gets cold enough, pipes can freeze in these areas because they are not heated.

These pipes frequently develop visible cracks at connection points from freezing. When you insulate PEX pipes, you can also size them up for each change in temperature. This technique can help mitigate some damage and burst pipes.

Based on personal experience, even non-insulated PEX hot tub piping is prone to damage, especially when outdoors.

5. Insulation of cellular pipes in the attic

Insulation of cellular pipes in the attic

Not all homes have attics, and for those that do, the hardest part of installing PEX pipe insulation in an attic is navigating the small areas that run through the space.

When combined with open-sided insulation, PEX and foam insulation can already provide enough flexibility to deal with such problems.

When insulating the PEX pipes in the attic, it is possible to cut them and run them from the other end for the tees and zip the ends of the pipes for additional glue support.

Always remember that no matter where your PEX pipes are, as long as they are not insulated, they will be prone to cracking and damage.

Things to Consider Before Insulating Pex Pipes

Of course, there are some insulation requirements PEX pipes. If you are going to insulate your home, you may want to consider the following:

  • The right size
  • The type of material to be used, such as fiberglass insulation
  • Type of fitting, such as continuous length type or foam pipe insulation

Before you insulate, the PEX tubing must be clean, as dirt can prevent the adhesive you will be using from bonding properly. Additionally, cleaning your pipe will prevent dirt from affecting your water quality.

Final thoughts

Indeed, freezing temperatures can damage your PEX pipes. This is the main reason an exposed PEX pipe should be insulated, especially when you know you have no warranty from the stores you bought your pipes from.

Although it is possible to insulate your pipes yourself, when doing so you should follow the proper steps, recommendations and requirements.