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Mother's self-appointed panel of know-it-alls pass down knowledge on freezing winter pipes, potbelly stoves and toilet tank condensation.
If you'd like our panel of consultants to answer a
question concerning some aspect of self-reliant living that
has you stumped, send it to Ask Our Experts,MOTHER EAR TH NEWS, P. 0.Box 70,
Hendersonville, NC 29793. The most frequently asked
questions wall be answered here—and here
only—so that we can all benefit from what these folks
have to say.
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Freezing Pipes
The water pipes in my crawl space freeze every winter. Are
there any really effective steps I can take to keep this
from happening?
Most houses with crawl spaces are located in the Southeast
and Far West, regions with lower than average heating
requirements and somewhat higher humidity levels. With a
few exceptions, less than 20% of the houses in the rest of
the country use such perimeter foundations. Because a crawl
space is somewhat exposed to the environment, even brief
cold spells can freeze water in the plumbing beneath the
house.
The simplest solutions—allowing the faucets to
trickle constantly, or wrapping the pipe runs with
electrical-resistance heat tape—are also the most
wasteful and not always 100% effective. A better remedy
would be to insulate the plumbing with foam wrap made for
this purpose, and close the perimeter vents during the
coldest months. In higher-humidity areas, however, this
might encourage floor-joist and structural decay,
especially if the wood moisture content exceeds 28%.
Since water tends to freeze at the points of maximum
restriction, a low-wattage light bulb placed near a chronic
tight spot (an elbow or reducer, for example) might solve
the problem. Also, if you're replumbing, consider routing
the runs alongside heating ducts where possible—and
keep in mind that plastic pipe is a better insulator than
conductive copper.
Probably the best permanent fix is to apply extruded
polystyrene insulation board to the perimeter wall with
construction adhesive. (If it's placed outside, protect it
with a parge coat or some other material.) It should set
you back about half the cost of floor insulation and will
protect both the crawl space and the living space above it.
If under-house moisture is a concern, consider laying
sheets of 6-mil polyethylene over the earth in the crawl
space and holding the plastic down at the edges with bricks
or cap blocks.
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