When you're working on an insulation drywall ceiling system, the gaps around pipes, vents, and cracks need a different solution than the pipes themselves. One product seals and air-blocks; the other wraps and protects. The Dow Great Stuff Gaps & Cracks expanding foam sealant comes as a 4-can kit, while the Everbilt 1 in. x 6 ft. foam pipe insulation is a simple self-sealing wrap. Here's how to decide between them.
Quick verdict
If you need to close small gaps up to 1 inch and block drafts, the 4-can Dow Great Stuff Gaps & Cracks kit is the stronger choice. It expands to fill cracks and voids, sticks to wood, concrete, and PVC, and creates a weather-tight seal. If you need to insulate 1-inch copper or 3/4-inch iron pipe to prevent freezing and condensation, the Everbilt foam pipe insulation is the practical pick. The price gap is about $17, so the right call depends entirely on your job.
At a glance
| Product | Price | What It Does | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Cans Dow Great Stuff Gaps \& Cracks Expanding Foam Sealant 12oz | $23.41 | Expanding polyurethane foam that fills, air-seals, and insulates small gaps up to 1 in. | Sealing cracks, joints, and pipe penetrations |
| 1 in. x 6 ft. Foam Pipe Insulation | $6.17 | Self-sealing foam wrap for 1 in. copper and 3/4 in. iron pipe | Preventing pipe freezing and condensation |
Where each product wins
Dow Great Stuff Gaps & Cracks wins when the problem is air leakage. Its straw applicator lets you inject foam into narrow gaps, and it expands to take the shape of the void. The cured foam is paintable and stainable, and it bonds to cement, concrete, existing insulation, PVC/CPVC pipes, and wood. It's a one-time fix for drafts and helps reduce condensation around penetrations.
The Everbilt foam pipe insulation wins when the problem is the pipe itself. It's a 6-foot tube with a self-sealing slit, so you can slip it over copper or iron pipe without tools. It's fire-rated to 25/50, and its R-value of 2.9 helps keep pipes from freezing in winter and sweating in summer. At $6.17, it's also a low-cost way to protect a run of pipe.
Product notes
4 Cans Dow Great Stuff Gaps \& Cracks Expanding Foam Sealant 12oz
The main reason to choose this kit is its ability to fill irregular gaps and form a permanent bond that stops airflow. It adheres to wood, concrete, PVC/CPVC, and existing insulation, and it's tack free in 15 minutes and trims in 30 to 60 minutes. It covers about 5 square feet per can, so you get a solid amount of sealant across four cans. The limitation is that it's a sealant, not a pipe wrap; if you try to use it as the sole insulation around a long pipe run, you'd need many cans and it won't give you the neat, removable coverage of a foam tube. Also, it takes up to an hour to cure, so you have to plan around that.
1 in. x 6 ft. Foam Pipe Insulation
This one earns its keep when you need a quick, low-cost wrap for exposed pipe. It's self-sealing, so you just press the slit closed, and it's sized for 1-inch copper and 3/4-inch iron pipe. The R-value of 2.9 helps prevent freezing in winter and condensation in summer, and the 25/50 fire rating adds a layer of safety. The limitation is that it's a fixed size; if your pipe is a different diameter, it won't fit snugly. It's also only 6 feet long, so longer runs will require multiple pieces, and it doesn't seal gaps or cracks around the pipe, just the pipe itself.
Final choice by use case
Choose the Dow Great Stuff Gaps & Cracks kit when you're air-sealing penetrations, cracks, and joints in your insulation drywall ceiling system. It's the right tool for stopping drafts and reducing condensation around openings, and it pays off if you have a handful of gaps to close.
Choose the Everbilt foam pipe insulation when you're protecting 1-inch copper or 3/4-inch iron pipe from freezing or sweating. For a simple, low-cost pipe wrap, it does the job without the wait time of curing foam.
