Insulating Pex Pipe Freezing

Pex is a type of plastic water pipe and one of the few options that won t crack if something goes wrong and the water it carries freezes.

Insulating pex pipe freezing.

One more tip and it s a big one. Click here for a video tour of one of the freeze proof systems i installed. It is important to choose the right insulation material. Insulate pex pipe exposed to freezing temperatures.

Doe recommends pipe insulation with a minimum of 3 0 r value 3 8 thick insulation walls. Select localities colder climate zones recommend r value of 4 0 and above 5 8 walls. Pex tubing is susceptible to cracking when it s exposed to freezing temperatures or ultraviolet light. Because pex piping is flexible it is often used in angles loops or other non linear shapes which makes it imperative to have equally flexible insulation material.

These joints are either plastic or brass and are fitted to the pipes using crimp rings. Pex is available in a variety of lengths from short 10 foot pieces for small repairs to rolls over 500 feet long which are used to install a home s entire water supply system. Pex pipe freezing is a question frequently asked in the case of pex the start of the conversation is much like other materials. Foam is used most commonly and generally works well.

How to insulate pex. During spells of acutely cold weather allow indoor faucets to dribble to relieve damaging. So keeping these tubes wrapped in some kind of insulation just makes sense. While pex is freeze resistant yes pex can freeze there are ways to defend against this though including strategic building design placement of tubing and the type of insulation.

Use pex pipe for your water line. Keep the tubing shielded from both hazards to increase its life. It is important to insulate pex pipe in an attic particularly in cold weather areas. Foam insulation tubing helps stop water pipes from freezing.

Tips for insulating pex pipes. Animals of all kinds like to chew the insulation.