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Best Pipe Insulation Types

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January 2, 2025

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The invention of pipes has revolutionized the transportation of resources to your home. Whether they contain water or natural gas, your trusty pipes ensure that the substance inside is delivered safely. However, they cannot withstand the ever-changing conditions they are exposed to without a little help. That’s where insulation comes in.

Article summary

In our opinion, fiberglass and cellular glass are the two best types of pipe insulation out there. However, other types include:

• Aerogel
• Polyethylene
• Mineral fiber

Let’s walk you through the best types of pipe insulation, including foam, fiberglass, and copper.

Table of Contents

• Best Pipe Insulation Types For Different Purposes
• Factors to consider
• Why you can trust us & how we picked
• How much does it cost to install?
• How to insulate

Best Pipe Insulation Types For Different Purposes

Here is a list of the best types of pipe insulation, like fiberglass, that can be used on copper pipes, outdoors, and more.

Fiberglass

Though the material is properly called glass fiber, fiberglass has become a more popular name over the years. True to its name, it comprises numerous fibers of glass bound together.

Wool-like in appearance, the individual sheets are not compressed tightly together. Since it is a poor thermal conductor, the trapped air greatly enhances its insulation efficiency.

Mineral fiber

Similar to fiberglass, it is made of many bound fibers and trapped air. As its name suggests, the fibers are made of molten minerals rather than glass. Because it is inflammable, it is an excellent choice for industrial pipework.

It is important that you handle both glass and mineral fiber with care. The tiny fibers peel from the surface and may irritate your eyes and respiratory tract. Direct skin contact might also cause scratches. When handling either one, always wear a protective suit and goggles.

Aerogel

Made from silica, aerogel is the champion among all insulants. Contrary to its name, it has nothing to do with a gel. Instead, it has innumerable pores filled with air. As both silica and gases conduct heat very poorly, they can protect an object from open fire when placed between them.

However, it has not been very long since its inception. It is yet to spread across the market. As such, it remains a very expensive option.

Cellular glass

Consisting entirely of glass, this insulation type is based on a myriad of small cells which are compressed together. Also known as foam glass, it can withstand high pressure and fluctuating temperatures. What’s more, it is a very long-lived and durable material.

Polyethylene

A very flexible material, foamed polyethylene (PE) is a very common material used to insulate water pipes. It is readily available and easy to install yourself. Polyethylene is a ubiquitous type of plastic that is not known to be dangerous to humans. Thus, the installation is much smoother than that of glass or mineral fiber.

Flexible elastomeric foams

These foams are based on rubber, making them impermeable to water vapor. This quality makes them popular to use on fridges or A/C pipework. In addition, thin layers are more than sufficient to wrap around the pipes. This makes them very space-efficient.

Foam

Also known as rigid foam, this substance is based on plastic. While it works poorly to absorb noise, it’s very heat resistant. And just like any kind of foam insulation, it saves a lot of space.

One of its variations is phenolic foam. It is a popular material mainly thanks to its high thermal resistance and space efficiency.

Polyurethane or spray foam is an alternative to phenolic foam, which sports similar qualities.

Factors to consider

When you decide to insulate your pipes, consider taking the following three factors into account.

Insulation thickness

Each material requires a different layer density to apply to your pipes to be effective. If you know there is not much space wherever your pipes are located, certain materials might be too bulky to insulate them properly. Aerogel requires the thinnest coating out of all types, making it perfect for conserving space. However, it is not exactly the cheapest. Foam insulations are the next best contenders for this role.

Material

Choosing the correct material is crucial when insulating your pipes. While common water pipes do well with various types, specific appliances such as A/C or furnaces work best with one specific type.

Location

The location of your pipework also plays a part in choosing the right material. Ones lurking within the walls of your house are much better protected since there already is insulation in the walls themselves. On the contrary, outdoor pipes are prone to damage if you leave them bare.

R-value

When buying insulants, you might come across this term. The R-value, or resistance to heat flow, is a physical property of a material. Don’t worry, though. We won’t bore you with complicated formulae. Suffice to say that the higher the value, the higher the thermal resistance. The recommended value depends on your geographical location and the place where the pipework is situated in your house.

Why you can trust us & how we picked

With significant experience in this industry, our team gathered together and discussed the differences between these types of pipe insulations. In our opinion, fiberglass is the best one mainly because it is both eco-friendly and resistant to fire.

You can also choose the mineral fiber option, as we also recommend this one. We wore protective equipment when we handled it because the fiber can cause severe damaged once inhaled, so you should do the same.

How much does it cost to install?

You can expect to pay between $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot. The price depends mainly on the quality of the material, and you should always choose the best one for your projects. If you hire a professional to insulate your pipes, you can expect to pay up to $1,000 for this procedure.

How to insulate

Can’t quite wrap your head around the installation itself? Don’t worry. We will walk you through the steps.

For DIY installations, foams are very beginner friendly. Unlike glass or mineral wool, they are not known to be harmful to humans when handled. Thus, we are going to focus on them.

Once you’ve chosen the material, it is time to decide whether you go for wrap-based or sleeve-based insulation.

Wrap it around

This form of insulation works wonders in places where the pipes twist and bend endlessly. It comes in thin sheets of foam.

1. Duct tape on the end of the wrap to the pipe. The modern version might feature adhesive ends.
2. Wrap it around the pipes in a continuous spiral. For maximum efficiency, make sure the adjacent loops overlap.
3. When the strip runs out or once you cover the entire pipe, tape the other end to the pipe. Make certain you left no gaps.

Foam pipe sleeves

Whether plastic or rubber, these sleeves are long hollow tubes with a slit on one side. This form is ideal for longer pipes, and the installation is very simple.

1. Open the slit and slide the tube onto a pipe. It will wrap around once you let go.
2. Seal the slit with duct tape. To achieve this, apply the duct tape horizontally along it. Modern sleeves might feature an in-built adhesive in the slit. If so, simply seal it shut.
3. Apply as many sleeves to them as needed. Make sure you tape all the ends of two adjacent sleeves.
4. When you reach the end or a turn, cut the sleeve short. Consider using wraps for the turns.