I’ve actually tried the hardware cloth trick in my attic, mostly to keep bats out (long story, don’t ask). It’s a pain to install, but honestly, it’s held up better than I expected. I haven’t noticed much of a difference in heating bills from the insulation alone, but maybe my house just leaks heat in other places. The recycled wrap idea sounds interesting—are you talking about using those foil bubble wraps, or something else? I’ve seen people use old moving blankets too, but I’m not sure how safe that is around pipes.
Curious if anyone’s had luck with pipe insulation in really damp crawl spaces. Mine always seems to get soggy, no matter what I try. Maybe the mesh would help with airflow, or maybe I’m just fighting a losing battle down there...
