Replies

1. 
   paul42 | Aug 03, 2006 08:03pm | #1

   Add some insulation to the garage.  If it stays above freezing in the garage, you won't have any frozen pipes.

2. 
   MojoMan | Aug 03, 2006 08:37pm | #2

   I would never want to design something in this day and age that required energy simply to prevent frozen pipes.

   Can you run the supply lines through the walls of the conditioned space? Insulate thoroughly below the drains lines. The traps might be most at risk because water stands in them. Don't insulate on top of the pipes so they get some heat from above. Maybe you could use I-joists to get an extra-deep floor frame and insulate with blown cellulose.

   Al Mollitor, Sharon MA

   http://moosehilljournal.blogspot.com/

3. 
   HammerHarry | Aug 03, 2006 10:09pm | #3

   We have a house where the master closet and master bath are above the garage; the garage is not heated.  It's an R2000 house, in eastern Canada, so the walls are 2x6, fiberglass insulation, and there's an inch of foam insulation on the outside of the walls.  It hits -30C here in the winter frequently.  Floors are warm, pipes never freeze.

   I'm not sure what you expect the problems to be, if you build the house properly.  Put the water and drain lines in the wall between the house and the garage, if they run through the garage ceiling, that's fine, too.  Keep them to the warm side as much as possible (ie, keep them relatively high in the joist bays).  Insulate properly, vapour barrier, sealed well to prevent air infiltration.  No worries. 

4. FHB Editor
   JFink | Aug 04, 2006 10:57pm | #4

   Good topic - bump

   Justin Fink - FHB Editorial

   Your Friendly Neighborhood Moderator