If you were Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
|
Posted by spamme0 on October 5, 2009, 4:34 pm
Floor insulation ==> frozen pipes???
I'm eligible for a low-income weatherization program.
They want to put insulation in my floors.
It's a ranch-style frame house 40 years old.
Crawl space is closed up during winter.
Outside Temperature rarely dips below 20F and I've never
had any issues with frozen pipes.
But when the insulation goes in, the crawl space
temperature will go down. When I asked about frozen
pipes, the answer was, "don't sweat it, we'll insulate
the pipes." I didn't think to ask about the sewer pipes.
Traps stay full of water.
When I tried to discuss the thermodynamics of the situation,
I got a blank stare.
Insulation reduces the rate of heat flow from the pipes,
but, eventually, the pipe temp gets to the crawl space temp.
I'm afraid that I'll be trading a few bucks off the gas bill for a lifetime
of plumbing problems.
Should I worry about this?
Thanks, mike
|
|
Posted by dpb on October 5, 2009, 4:47 pm
spamme0 wrote:
> Floor insulation ==> frozen pipes???
>
> I'm eligible for a low-income weatherization program.
> They want to put insulation in my floors.
>
> It's a ranch-style frame house 40 years old.
> Crawl space is closed up during winter.
> Outside Temperature rarely dips below 20F and I've never
> had any issues with frozen pipes.
>
> But when the insulation goes in, the crawl space
> temperature will go down. When I asked about frozen
> pipes, the answer was, "don't sweat it, we'll insulate
> the pipes." I didn't think to ask about the sewer pipes.
> Traps stay full of water.
>
> When I tried to discuss the thermodynamics of the situation,
> I got a blank stare.
>
> Insulation reduces the rate of heat flow from the pipes,
> but, eventually, the pipe temp gets to the crawl space temp.
>
> I'm afraid that I'll be trading a few bucks off the gas bill for a lifetime
> of plumbing problems.
>
> Should I worry about this?
If outside temp's generally don't get below the low 20s I'd not be
particularly concerned. Certainly one way to do it unless the pipes are
not directly below the floor joists is to include them above the
insulation altho it may be a little more effort.
Adding the insulation to the pipes will certainly help; if there's any
area that indicates there's a problem a heat tape could always be used.
In general, only hot water supply lines typically cause problems in
marginal conditions as the hot water displaces air from the cold supply.
Overall, I think you're probably in good shape and the benefits will be
noticeable.
--
|
|
Posted by Eric in North TX on October 5, 2009, 6:02 pm
> Floor insulation =3D=3D> frozen pipes???
> I'm eligible for a low-income weatherization program.
> They want to put insulation in my floors.
> It's a ranch-style frame house 40 years old.
> Crawl space is closed up during winter.
> Outside Temperature rarely dips below 20F and I've never
> had any issues with frozen pipes.
> But when the insulation goes in, the crawl space
> temperature will go down. =A0When I asked about frozen
> pipes, the answer was, "don't sweat it, we'll insulate
> the pipes." =A0I didn't think to ask about the sewer pipes.
> Traps stay full of water.
> When I tried to discuss the thermodynamics of the situation,
> I got a blank stare.
> Insulation reduces the rate of heat flow from the pipes,
> but, eventually, the pipe temp gets to the crawl space temp.
> I'm afraid that I'll be trading a few bucks off the gas bill for a lifeti=
me
> of plumbing problems.
> Should I worry about this?
> Thanks, mike
Of all the insulation we have installed, the below the floor in the
crawl space did the least good. i did that in a ranch style of similar
age, and notice very little if any difference in floor temperature or
bills. We have moved and are skipping that step on this house, we have
upgraded windows and doors, and are stuffing the outside walls as time
permits. That has done so much good, the propane man is barely
speaking to us.
|
|
Posted by HeyBub on October 5, 2009, 6:16 pm
spamme0 wrote:
> Floor insulation ==> frozen pipes???
> I'm eligible for a low-income weatherization program.
> They want to put insulation in my floors.
> It's a ranch-style frame house 40 years old.
> Crawl space is closed up during winter.
> Outside Temperature rarely dips below 20F and I've never
> had any issues with frozen pipes.
> But when the insulation goes in, the crawl space
> temperature will go down. When I asked about frozen
> pipes, the answer was, "don't sweat it, we'll insulate
> the pipes." I didn't think to ask about the sewer pipes.
> Traps stay full of water.
> When I tried to discuss the thermodynamics of the situation,
> I got a blank stare.
> Insulation reduces the rate of heat flow from the pipes,
> but, eventually, the pipe temp gets to the crawl space temp.
> I'm afraid that I'll be trading a few bucks off the gas bill for a
> lifetime of plumbing problems.
They get paid by the gov'ment to do what they do. If the taxpayers also pay
them to do vasectomies, cross your legs.
|
|
Posted by aemeijers on October 5, 2009, 6:42 pm
HeyBub wrote:
> spamme0 wrote:
>> Floor insulation ==> frozen pipes???
>> I'm eligible for a low-income weatherization program.
>> They want to put insulation in my floors.
>> It's a ranch-style frame house 40 years old.
>> Crawl space is closed up during winter.
>> Outside Temperature rarely dips below 20F and I've never
>> had any issues with frozen pipes.
>> But when the insulation goes in, the crawl space
>> temperature will go down. When I asked about frozen
>> pipes, the answer was, "don't sweat it, we'll insulate
>> the pipes." I didn't think to ask about the sewer pipes.
>> Traps stay full of water.
>> When I tried to discuss the thermodynamics of the situation,
>> I got a blank stare.
>> Insulation reduces the rate of heat flow from the pipes,
>> but, eventually, the pipe temp gets to the crawl space temp.
>> I'm afraid that I'll be trading a few bucks off the gas bill for a
>> lifetime of plumbing problems.
>
> They get paid by the gov'ment to do what they do. If the taxpayers also pay
> them to do vasectomies, cross your legs.
>
>
Better idea, IMHO, to insulate the walls in the crawl space, down to the
footers. Also to seal the air leaks at the sill plate, and insulate the
band joist spaces. Unless a crawl space is damp, I see no reason to
vent it anytime during the year, and most modern houses don't even have
vents. Just vapor barrier over the dirt.
--
aem sends...
|
| Similar Threads | Posted | | Frozen Pipes Follow up.. | April 27, 2007, 9:56 pm |
| frozen pipes acting weird | January 17, 2007, 4:45 pm |
| Not your run of the mill Frozen Pipes problem | February 12, 2007, 12:20 pm |
| Preventing frozen pipes on slab | January 20, 2009, 10:44 pm |
| Frozen Pipes; Heat Tape vs Low Energy, Low Flow, Adjustable Low Temp Redytemp | February 6, 2007, 12:25 pm |
| Temporaire water into insulation could affect insulation and floor rafters? | July 10, 2006, 11:03 am |
| Partial insulation of pipes | December 1, 2005, 3:54 pm |
| Insulation on heating pipes? | January 15, 2006, 11:27 pm |
| Insulation and Sealer for Hot Air Furnace Pipes | March 15, 2007, 8:42 pm |
| Insulation for a trailer, underside and freezing pipes | January 20, 2009, 7:14 pm |
|
|
Yahoo! 
Google 
Windows Live 
del.icio.us 
digg 
Netscape 
XML Sitemap