i have an uninsulated crawlsapce under a new addition and have to run plumbing out there for a radiant baseboard heater and a refrigerator with an ice and water hookup. is running the plumbing through the joists enough? shoul i have to insulate the pipes as well?
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In my experience, insulating pipes is a fool's errand. You need to insulate the space where they are run and provide some method to keep that space above freezing. Often, merely venting the space to an adjacent heated space is enough. Also. when insulating the chase, insulate only on sides adjacent to cold areas, not heated areas. (For example, in your case, if you are running plumbing under the floor between joists, insulate the sides of the joist space and the bottom, but not the top since the heat from the room above will help keep the chase warm.)
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
I'm going to disagree with Mike. Insulate both the pipes and the bays (completely).
The idea is to help the pipes maintain temperature. Leaving an airspace around the pipe, may not only assist in temperature loss (due to reduced insulation), but may actually create other problems, such as condensation (cooler air contacting underside of warm subfloor.).
If you have room enough to work.....adding a layer of styrofoam insul board to the underside of joists, wouldn't hurt either.
Democrats.
The other white meat.
Wanna give us a clue as to where you live?
i am up in portsmouth, ri. im am siding with jdrh1. i was planning on fully insulating the bays with R-30 (2x8 floor frame) but i think adding some 1/2" foam baord insulation will seal the deal for me. thkans for the input guys, this was my first time in breaktime and it has already proved its worth.
once you know all your limits, you finally have freedom. -mies van der rohe