I will be building a shop attached to the garage. I want to bring water out to the shop from the house, but it would have to come through about 26 feet of the attic of the garage, which would not be heated.
Can this be insulated to keep the pipe from freezing?
Replies
I think you'd have to heat tape it. Just insulation would slow the heat leaking out, but if you don't let the shop water trickle, the pipe will eventually freeze. The heat's got to come from somewhere!
Forrest
wrap it with aheat tape,as soon as it hits about 35 it will kick on and keep it warm. you don't want a pipe in a ceiling bursting. larry
if a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?
You might consider PEX for that run of pipe. It is mostly unaffected by freezing. I have PEX in my crawl space and attic and don't worry about it. Also have copper and have heat tape on it.
Got All 10,
Punch a hole in your house foundation and bury the water line to the shop. As I'm sure you know, once you have installed plumbing in your shop, you will need to either (a) Keep the shop heated all winter long, or (b) Drain all your plumbing and put antifreeze in your traps and toilet every time you decide to turn off the heat.
1) Heat it,
2) Use freeze-resistant piping, or
3) Use a circulating system to keep the water slightly warm.