I recently finished renovating the master bath–in my 50 year old ranch on a slab–during which I moved the shower valve from the long wall to the short wall, where it’s typically found. I was surprised to find there were already water supply pipes capped off (about a foot tall) on the short wall. My GUESS now, is that at one time the valve was on this wall–an exterior wall in the entrance way, see photo–and they froze, so they moved the pipes to the long shower wall, which put them in a room with the furnace. I put FG in the stud bays and behind, but not if front of, the pipes, thinking this would allow more heat from the bathroom to get to the pipes. (In retrospect, I wish I would have put rigid insulation behind the pipes.) The shower is 1/4 inch Swanstone over 1/2 inch sheetrock.
I realize this is quite subjective but any guesses about the odds of these pipes freezing (in Kansas City) and (b) would it help to put a storm door in the opening pictured, making an airlock type entrance?
Thanks for your thoughts.
Thon
(The picture shows a step up into the entrance way–door on left–and pipes are directly behind wall in center of pic.)
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I don't have any idea what the weather is like in Kansas City but I can tell you most pipes don't freeze because of cold they freeze because of air movement. If the tempatures are extreme (0 or less for days at a time) you can have pipe freezing in otherwise air tight areas but pipes will freeze in a 20 degree crawl space with just a slight draft through a foundation crack. In my opinion putting a decent storm door on that opening would be a good preventative measure and not to expensive. DanT
I am in Kansas City (near Blue Springs). The other person is partially correct. Do whatever you can to seal that wall from the outside. Any air leaks drasticaly reduce the value of the insulation.
As to your question I am sure that it would freeze if we got another spell of weather like we did in Dec 89 where it was -20 below.
But with typical weather I don't think that you will have a problem if you have the area well sealed, but when it get down to about zero I would watch it closely.
I agree with the above however keep in mind that fiberglass does NOT stop air infiltration, if you have a crack or hole to the outside wind pressure will pass through the fiberglass, you would be better off with ridgid foam sealed tight to the studs.