Insulating pipes in attic (floors, roof, heat, drains …

Reputation: 331

Recently, I poked my head in the attic and noticed two pipes. What's the best diy way to insulate them from freezing? Can I just wrap batting or spray foam them? I really don't want to install something that requires wiring or anything electrical to protect them. Thanks for your help.

Reputation: 484

Hi FW, Yes, you can just wrap them with insulation or you can snug some insulation down on top of them, over them. If they are near the ceiling, they will benefit from the warmth that rises from the living space below and the insulation will serve as a blanket.

Reputation: 16288

If your attic has pipes carrying potable colder hot water in them, and you live in a climate where attics often have freezing temperatures, I would first be somewhat surprised and I would recommend asking a plumber to investigate if there was a way to eliminate these runs -- unless you resort to heated pipe tape these pipes WILL burst when you are away from home, the water is stagnant, the weather is especically cold. Very very bad...

There are devices that can be plumbed into lines to force circulation which would greatly reduce odds of freezing, similarly you could increase total insulation in attic (which is pretty nearly always a really good idea) so that warmth from living space tends to surround pipes, or you could start planning for fixing the problem.

Location: Knoxville

Reputation: 4431

If they are waste/vent pipes (the ones that go thru the roof), don't bother.

Location: Grosse Ile Michigan

Reputation: 18305

IN any event, the easiest way to insulate pipes is to buy pre-shaped pipe insulation pieces for the size of pipe that you need to insulate. You cna get them at any home inprovement store. These are foam tubes with a slit in one side. To insulate a pipe, you cut the tube to length, open it up and slip it over the pipe - done. You can tape the joints on long runs if you wish, but it is not really necessary. You may have to do a bit of work to handle corners and joints, but it is not hard. You can also just wrap and tape the coners and joints if you want the easy way.

Location: NE CT

Reputation: 694

If they are water pipes you should find out what they service and why they are in the attic. This is very unusual to have water pipes in the attic unless you are dealing with an old Victorian home with a third floor that had servants quarters.

We really need more information here. When was your house built? What style is it. A walk up attic or a crawl space attic with those pull down stairs. Are there floors or just joists filled in between with insulation.

To find out if there is water in them, test by running several different things separately. First try a sink, then another, then a shower and then a bath tub, etc etc. You will hear the water moving through the pipe. If you try everything and don't hear any water moving through the pipes, they aren't working water pipes or they don't service water. Could it be a one inch gas line? Be careful with those so as no to kink them. Gas won't freeze so no problem there.

Reputation: 331

I saw two pvc pipes and assumed they're plumbing pipes. I live in the south and read where it's common for plumbing pipes to go through the attic here since there are fewer freezing days than in the north, where plumbing pipes run through heated areas.

The house is five years old. No gas lines. The attic has joists with insulation in between them, so no attic floor to easily walk across. No attic stairs, so I use a ladder. I need to look and see whether the pipes go through the roof. I thought waste would go down and out of the sewer lines and not through the attic. Never heard of sewer gas before.

Location: Knoxville

Reputation: 4431

As far as the attic not getting cold...I would suggest going up in an attic when it is below freezing sometime. It is very cold it attics. While heat does rise, the attic insulation keeps the heat inside the house. I have been in attics where I could see my breath when I was walking around.

If the pipes in the attic are water supply, they will likely be no larger that 3/4". The white PVC pipes you saw, are most likely waste/vent pipes that go thru the roof. You don't have to worry about those freezing.

Location: NE CT

Reputation: 694

Quote:

The white PVC pipes you saw, are most likely waste/vent pipes that go thru the roof. You don't have to worry about those freezing.

Location: Grosse Ile Michigan

Reputation: 18305

Quote:

As far as the attic not getting cold...I would suggest going up in an attic when it is below freezing sometime. It is very cold it attics. While heat does rise, the attic insulation keeps the heat inside the house. I have been in attics where I could see my breath when I was walking around.

If the pipes in the attic are water supply, they will likely be no larger that 3/4". The white PVC pipes you saw, are most likely waste/vent pipes that go thru the roof. You don't have to worry about those freezing.

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Insulating pipes in attic (floors, roof, heat, drains ...