Insulating outdoor faucets is an easy DIY project that will help you save money on your water bill. Most of the time, outdoor faucets get left on, which causes them to use more water and makes it difficult to turn them off. To stop this from happening, all you need are a few basic supplies. Read below for the step-by-step instructions on how to insulate your outdoor faucet with insulation foam.
1. The Benefits of Insulating Outdoor Faucets
Insulating outdoor faucets is an easy project that has a lot of benefits. By insulating the outdoor faucet, you will be able to save on your water bill. With insulation foam, this won’t happen as insulation foam prevents outside air from coming in contact with the pipes. This also means that the temperature of the pipes will remain constant and won’t change due to seasonal changes in temperature.
Insulating outdoor faucets also helps reduce noise pollution. If you live in a populated area with a lot of traffic, you may notice that when people turn off their hoses, there is a loud screeching sound coming from your pipes (especially if you have old pipes). With the insulation foam, this sound doesn’t come through as much because it reduces vibrations and prevents outside air from coming in contact with your pipes. And lastly, insulating outdoor faucets with insulation foam can help prevent corrosion or rusting on your pipes which can increase costs for repairs or replacements down the road.
2. Insulate Outdoor Faucet
Step 1: Remove the faucet handle
Start by turning the water off to your outside faucet. Using a pipe wrench, remove the faucet handle.
Step 2: Cut insulation foam
Cut out a piece of insulation foam that is large enough to surround the entire base of your outdoor faucet. You may want to use a utility knife or scissors for this step.
Step 3: Wrap the foam around the base of your outdoor faucet
Once you have cut out a piece of insulation foam, wrap it around the base of your outdoor faucet. This will help keep heat from escaping into your house when it’s cold outside and prevent water from dripping on surfaces inside your house during warmer months.
3. Step-by-Step Instructions to Insulate Your Outdoor Faucet
1. Purchase the insulation foam and a roll of duct tape, enough to cover the entire length of your faucet handle.
2. Cut out a piece of insulation that’s about 2 inches wide and long enough to fit around your faucet handle.
3. Place the foam over the entire length of the faucet handle and allow it to hang over all 4 sides (this will be trimmed after application).
4. Wrap the duct tape tightly around all 4 sides to keep the insulation in place. This should give you a snug fit so that there’s no way for water to get in between your insulation and faucet handle.
5. Trim away any excess insulation foam from either side of the faucet handle with scissors or a utility knife.
6. Go outside and turn on your outdoor faucet to test if it’s still getting water inside; if so, repeat steps 1-5 until water doesn’t seep through anymore.
4. Remove the Handle from the Sprayer
First, you will want to remove the handle from your outdoor faucet. This will make it easier to wrap the insulation foam around it.
5. Cut Out a Rectangle Around the Spray Head
The first step is to find the right size piece of insulation foam. Make sure that you cut out a rectangle around the spray head to make it easier to wrap. The next step is to place the foam around the faucet and then use scissors or a utility knife to cut it into shape. Cut through both sheets of foam so they overlap each other and create a tight seal. This will help prevent water from seeping through gaps in between them.
Once your insulation is in place, it’s time to wrap it up tight with electrical tape. Next, you’ll want to do the same for the top layer of foam and trim off any excess length on the tape if necessary. The last step is to turn your outdoor faucet on full blast for about 30 seconds or until all of the air bubbles have popped out and you are left with a dry surface. You just saved yourself money on your water bill from now on!
6. Place the Foam Around the Sprayer Head
Start by cutting the insulation foam to size. You will want a piece that covers the entire sprayer head and part of the spout. The foam should be long enough so that it is able to cover the faucet when it’s turned off.
Next, place the foam around the sprayer head. Make sure everything is secure and fits in place before moving on to step 3.
Now, take a utility knife and cut a hole in the foam for the spout. This should be placed directly over where you would normally turn on your outdoor faucet.
Spray some water until it has created its own seal, which will secure your insulation to the spray head.
Turn your outdoor faucet off after you have sprayed until your insulation has made a tight seal with the sprayer head and spout.
One way to know if your insulation is working is by listening to water hitting metal or hearing it come from below your insulation when you turn on your outdoor faucet. Once you no longer hear any sounds coming from beneath your insulation, then you can be confident that it is working properly!
7. Preparing the Area
First, you will need to remove the faucet’s handle. Once the handle is removed, you need to prepare the area by removing any loose dirt or debris. Make sure you have a clean work surface and all of the necessary tools before continuing with the project.
8. Safe Tips and Tricks
Insulating outdoor faucets is an easy DIY project that will help you save money on your water bill. To stop this from happening, all you need are a few basic supplies.
If the insulation foam you purchased doesn’t have a peel-off backing, then before applying it to the faucet base, use a utility knife to cut the foam into strips that are 3 inches wide by 4 inches long (the width of the silicone adhesive). Continue applying pressure until you reach the other end of the foam strip. Then go back over any areas where there may still be some air bubbles and apply additional pressure with your fingers or a squeegee for about 30 seconds after which point most of the air bubbles should be gone. Now comes the time for attaching the insulation foam to your outdoor faucet base. Peel off half of one side from your roll of waterproof silicone adhesive (you want enough for only one side).
9. Get Your Materials and Tools Ready
To insulate your outdoor faucet, you will need:
- A roll of insulation foam
- Scissors or a utility knife
- Masking tape (optional)
- A spray bottle filled with water
- A bucket lined with plastic to catch the water overflow
- An outdoor faucet
Conclusion
Insulating outdoor faucets are a great way to help your faucet last for years to come. Start by removing the handle from the sprayer and cutting out a rectangle around the spray head. Next, place the foam around the sprayer head, then prepare the area and get your materials and tools ready. Once you are finished, your faucet will be insulated and ready to withstand the elements.
