Can Insulation Prevent Plumbing Floods?

Preventing plumbing floods is a tricky and complex undertaking that has no guarantees. Many professionals will tell you that it is almost inevitable that you will experience a plumbing flood at some point in your life and while this is not necessarily true, plumbing floods are quite common. Insulating your home is just one thing that you can do to prevent them.  

Insulation Prevents Freezing 

One of the most common causes of a large plumbing flood in North and South Dakota is a pipe which has frozen and ruptured because of the expansion of the water inside it. This is most common in pipes which connect directly to exterior taps or systems and pipes which are found in non-insulated crawl spaces or basements. Insulating (and waterproofing) your basement, crawl space, or exposed pipes is crucial to preventing this kind of damage.  

The key to preventing your pipes from freezing and bursting is managing the temperature of your home and the water in the pipes. So, as you can imagine, insulation is a highly effective way to protect your home from this kind of damage. However, if you have an exterior tap or pipe which is connected to a hose or sprinkler system you should still disconnect these systems in winter to prevent the water inside them from freezing as this will impact connected pipes.  

Corrosion and Pressure Can Also Cause Plumbing Floods 

Insulation can protect your pipes from damage as a result of frozen water expanding but will not protect your pipes from other forms of damage. The only exception is that of water-based corrosion – certain kinds of pipe insulation can prevent corrosion by preventing condensation from forming on or around the pipes. Corrosion caused by a small leak or other issues within the metal of the pipes, however, will not be prevented by insulation. 

Likewise, many plumbing floods are caused by excessively high-water pressure. This is something that insulation cannot mitigate or prevent – the best way to prevent plumbing floods as a result of high-water pressure is via regular maintenance and careful management of the water pressure in your home. The ideal pressure, for those not aware, is roughly between 40 and 60 PSI, any higher than 80, however, and a burst pipe will become increasingly more likely.