Soundproofing a Drain Pipe With Insulation

Service Access

• First and foremost, whatever you use to insulate your drain pipe should not render it unable to be serviced. If the pipe breaks or is leaking, you will want to be able to get the soundproofing out and away from the pipe without too much hassle. Stick to purpose-designed soundproofing material that is designed with these considerations in mind.

Fiberglass Insulation

• Fiberglass insulation is a relatively poor sound barrier. Fiberglass is a porous material, as this is what helps improve its thermal insulation properties. However, these same properties allow sound to transmit through the material. Fiberglass can also trap moisture and allow mold and mildew to grow, creating the potential for serious health hazards.

Foam Wraps

• Most any home improvement store will sell foam wraps that are designed to be put on water pipes to aid in soundproofing. These materials are typically waterproof and less porous than insulation batting, which helps prevent mold growth and improves the effectiveness of the acoustic insulation. These foam wraps come pre-cut for specific pipe lengths or can be purchased in rolls and zip-tied around your drain pipe.

Open Cell Insulation

• Another option for properly soundproofing a drain pipe is to spray open-cell insulation in to the area in the wall where your drain pipe is located. Open-cell insulation is sprayed on to the area to be insulated and it traps bubbles of air within the material as it dries. This helps with both thermal and acoustic insulation. Additionally, the material is waterproof and not prone to mold growth. Open-cell insulation is less effective as a thermal insulator than its closed counterpart, but is much better for soundproofing.

Soundproofing Walls

• If you do not have access to the drain pipe you wish to soundproof, you can reduce the sound from the pipe by installing a soundproofing wall around the pipe. Soundproofing material can be purchased in sheets that are not unlike sheets of drywall,and are installed in a similar fashion.