I tried one of those self-sealing tapes last winter after seeing them at the hardware store—figured it couldn’t hurt. Honestly, it was easier to work with than the old sticky stuff, and it did seem to stay put even when things got damp under the house. That said, I still wrapped foam sleeves first because I just don’t trust tape alone. Haven’t had any pipes freeze since, but I’m not sure if that’s the tape or just luck. Heat cables are tempting, but I keep putting it off... maybe next year.
I’m with you on not trusting tape alone—foam sleeves just seem like cheap insurance. I’ve been eyeing heat cables too, but I keep wondering if they’re overkill for our winters. Have you noticed any condensation issues with the tape and foam combo? Sometimes I get a bit of sweating under the house and worry it’ll mess with the insulation.
I’ve definitely noticed a bit of sweating under the foam, especially during those weird temperature swings. It hasn’t wrecked the insulation yet, but I do check it every spring just in case. Honestly, I think heat cables are a bit much unless you’re seeing actual freeze-ups. Have you tried using the thicker foam sleeves? I found the cheap ones just don’t cut it for our climate.
Honestly, I think heat cables are a bit much unless you’re seeing actual freeze-ups.
- I agree, heat cables seem like overkill unless you’ve had pipes burst before.
- I switched to the thicker foam sleeves last winter—definitely noticed less sweating, but they’re pricier.
- For the sweating, have you tried taping the seams with that foil HVAC tape? It helped me cut down on moisture under the foam.
- Curious if anyone’s tried wrapping pipes with fiberglass before putting the foam on? Wondering if that’s worth the extra step or just a waste of money.
Heat cables might seem like overkill, but in my old place, one cold snap was enough to flood the basement—wish I’d spent the extra $40 back then. Foam sleeves work, but I’ve found even the cheap ones help if you’re consistent. Taping seams is smart, but fiberglass feels like too much hassle for most homes unless you’re in a really cold area or have pipes running along outside walls. For me, simpler’s better unless you’ve got a real freeze risk.
