Question:

Hi,

We've recently (last week) finished a small bootroom with a powder room that was built into and enclosed within the garage. It is open to the front hall. A section of our pipes that go to the powder room sink are on an outside wall. Our contractor did lots of insulating (foam around the pipes and pink insulation in the wall cavity. However, our pipes have frozen. Is there something we can do to prevent this from happening again?
Thank you,
Patti Ranson

Answer:

Patti Ranson:
The simple answer is to take those pipes out of that wall. However that may be easier said than done. The only way to really ensure the pipes do not freeze again is to expose the pipes to the heat in the house. The pipes must be on the warm side of the insulation and vapour barrier and the pipes themselves should not be insulated. This will maximize the pipes exposure to the the warmth of the house. One other trick is to cut a hole in the drywall exposing the pipes and then cover that hole with a cold air grate. This will allow warm air to circulate in and around the pipes helping to keep them from freezing.
Bob

Answered By: Bob Steele

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