With freezing temperatures returning to the forecast, it’s time to think about protecting your home’s plumbing — and there’s real science behind why wrapping your pipes works.
When water freezes, it expands by nearly nine percent. That expansion builds pressure inside pipes, especially in unheated areas like crawl spaces or exterior walls, where even a small ice plug can cause the pipe to burst.
Wrapping pipes with foam insulation or heat tape helps by trapping heat energy already present in the water and metal, slowing how quickly the temperature drops below freezing. Materials like polyethylene or fiberglass act as thermal barriers — the same principle that keeps your coffee warm in a thermos.
Even a simple layer of insulation can make a difference of several degrees, enough to prevent ice from forming overnight. Experts also recommend letting faucets drip slightly, which keeps water moving through the pipes and releases pressure before it builds.
In short — pipe wrapping works by buying you time, using physics and insulation to keep water flowing and your plumbing intact when the mercury drops.
