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...
I’d be careful with moving blankets near pipes, especially in damp crawl spaces. They can trap moisture and get moldy fast—been there, regretted that. I know the foil bubble wrap is popular, but honestly, it’s not always worth the hype for the price. For soggy insulation, I’ve had better luck just using closed-cell foam pipe covers and making sure there’s a vapor barrier on the ground. It’s not perfect, but at least it doesn’t turn into a science experiment under the house...
Yeah, those moving blankets are basically mold magnets in a crawl space—learned that the gross way. I’m with you on the closed-cell foam, though. Did you find a brand that holds up? Some of mine keep splitting after a winter or two... not sure if I’m being too cheap or what.
Did you find a brand that holds up? Some of mine keep splitting after a winter or two... not sure if I’m being too cheap or what.
Honestly, I’ve had the same issue with the cheaper foam tubes from the big box stores. They just don’t last. The Frost King ones held up a bit better for me, but even those can get brittle. I started wrapping the foam with that foil tape—helps a little, but it’s not perfect. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just our freeze/thaw cycles wrecking everything, no matter what brand you buy.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing with those foam sleeves—they just don’t seem built for more than a couple seasons, especially with our wild temperature swings. I tried the foil tape trick too, and it helped a bit, but not a game changer. One year I experimented with wool pipe wrap (leftover from another project), and weirdly enough, it lasted longer and didn’t get as brittle. Not the cheapest option, but maybe worth it if you’re tired of tossing out cracked foam every spring. The freeze/thaw cycle really does a number on everything around here...