If this is an exterior wall in a area that gets cold winter's, there's a few additional steps I would take. First, run the waterlines as close to the drywall side of the stud as possible. Protect them from screw punctures where they pass thru any studs with steel smash plates. Next, insulate the piping with fibreglass pipe insulation first, then insulate the walls as you typically would with the highest R value insulation you can get for the size framing you have. Spray foam, while a nuisance is a good option on an exterior wall. You'll maximize the freeze protection as much as possible this way. I'm a plumber in Canada and while it's not ideal to have plumbing in an outside wall, this way will give you about the best protection you can hope for short of running heat trace lines on them.
Great video Corey. I had to get my outdoor spigot attached to the house replaced. Now I need to make sure that the spigot and pipe line doesn't freeze again. I will get these products today. We need to make sure we install the right products to prevent this happening again.
THANK YOU ! This is exactly what I was looking for. I need to move my shower plumbing and shower head to the exterior wall because the current layout and design is backward. You enter the shower, at the shower head. I was worried about the pipes freezing, even here in Asheville, NC. The foam board and sealing any air gaps will do the trick for sure. THANKS !!
I REALLY LIKE your video...I have a wall in my master bathroom that is on an exterior wall. I would like to use your ideas that you suggested in your video...what type of foam board should I get. I have no idea which brand or R rating of Foam Board I should get...or the type of insulation I should purchase...Would appreciate your thoughts on the best product to get for the Foam Board and Insulation...thanks in advance for your time - greatly appreciated.
I really like your idea of foamboard and Great Stuff. I saw it in your 'Poor Man's Spray Foam' vid, too. Great idea. I think fiberglass mats are a waste of time and energy due to air migration through them, but a solid, air-tight mass like spray foam, foamboard, and your excellent foamboard/Great Stuff technique is the way to go. Thanks!
The previous owner of my house used pex to connect the bathroom to the water supply. The problem was not only was the pex run up along side the main vent pipe but also the guy thought it would be a great idea to use zip ties to secure the water lines to the CAST IRON vent pipe! I live in northern Canada! The pipes froze but didn't burst. After cutting some holes in the wall (where I discovered what the guy did), the pipes thawed. I immediately cut the zip ties and used the foam pipe wrap. No more frozen pipes!
and of course yet better advice is "dont put your plumbing into outdoor walls as much as possible possible, use indoor walls instead". Foam board is also great solution because if you compress that wool, you will get lower R-value
“These pipes can never burst” unless they are cast-iron waste pipes. Should these be replaced with ABS or PVC? Thanks for the helpful tips on insulating. Also, what can be done for sound deadening? What works well for cutting down sound through plastic drain?
Again Cory, another great video. I have a concrete block home and wonder if you might some day do a video about how to properly insulate and exterior wall of that type of home? Look forward to watching it if you do. I'm a subscriber so I'm sure I'll see it sooner or later. Thanks.
Corey i'm sorry just found your reply from my last question. I really do appreciate your taking time to respond. Still would really like to find small cans of foam for odd jobs. Hope your family is well! Thanks again take care Dennis
I have three sections in my home where I plan on dropping the hot recirc line down into the cavity (between 16" oc 2x4's) and back up to allow it to get as close to the fixture as possible. I'm having a difficult time coming up with a solution to both insulate the pex with closed cell tubing AND securing it to the sides of the 2x4. I can't find any stand off pex support brackets. I'm curious if I split rockwool insulation in half and great stuffed the seems of the framing off if that would do the trick or work even better?
I have a question....Which type of foam board do I use if I have to insulate plumbing on the outside wall of a 150 year old house? Will the foam board work just as well on a stone basement wall?
hahahaha, I did not do that, but thankfullly i have not sealed the sheetrock...i sqeezed insulation all over the place and yours is so neat. but I am not finished and the idea of splitting the insulation is a very neat idea...we are so cold here right now in CO so back at it, thanks
Thanks Corey! My only problem is I have a wall already up and was wondering what the best way would be to insulate without tearing down the wall? Any suggestions?
Can you use the pool noodle style long black foam sleeve around the pipe and then add the batten insulation on top of this? Or are those foam sleeves only used for exposed pipes?
Is this method supposed to be better than the K -flex foam pipe insulation (advertized above)? I'm thinking maybe foam board as the first layer...Great Stuff around the perimeter....AND foam pipe insulation around pipes....then 1/2 thickness of fiberglass insulation to cover. Can anyone think of a reason this might not be a good idea? I'm about to add a small kitchen and bath and most of the plumbing fixtures are on outside walls (in Kansas).
I have a situation where I have the waste pipe and it has been insulated around it before but clearly not enough as ice formed on the inside of the insulation. What is your recommendation to insulate around the large waste pipe?
why wouldnt you go ahead and put the first bat of insulation over the foam board insulation. Then just use the rest of the insulation as normal?Would it be because of the foam insulation spray?
just had new kitchen fitted, I have small kitchen. The problem I have is there are heating pipes behind where my fridge freezer is. From what I read online having a radiator or heating pipes can cause fire risk. what do I use to insulate the heating pipes (to stop heat escaping, so that the area behind the fridge will be kept cool) any advice? Excuse my English, hope I have explained my point clearly.
If you are using poly instead of paper covered insulation, would you leave the poly off that section where you put the foam board since you would have two vapour barriers...poly and the foam board...and increase risk of moisture between them?
That's a good question... I did this same method on my cottage and I decided that the foam board is also the vapour barrier ... It seems that there is also a great deal of controversy surrounding the necessity of using vapour barriers. Although it appears that having two vapour barriers is a definite no no
I had a washing machine line burst right as I walked by.. lucky duck shut it off in 30 seconds still a mess.. now I only use stainless lines and a shutoff valve.. single lever... period
Air sealing is what keeps cold air from getting in - not insulation. Insulation is for inhibiting the radiation - outward - of heat. These are two different jobs taken care of by two totally different things.
Your plumbing should never be on the outside of your vapor barrier. It should always be on the inside of the vapor barrier so there is no chance of condensation and cause mold.
Fiberglass insulation batting was not designed to prevent pipes from freezing. Compressing, cutting, splitting these insulation types makes them less effective AND COULD MAKE THE INSTALLER OF EITHER THE PIPES OR THE INSULATION LIABLE for any frozen pipes. This should also apply to the manufacturer who recommends this practice as well . Pipe wrap insulation was also NOT DESIGNED to prevent pipes from freezing. See www.freezeblocker.com ..The only engineered freeze protection pipe - building insulation system DESIGNED to prevent pipes installed in unheated building cavities and spaces from freezing!
If this is an exterior wall in a area that gets cold winter's, there's a few additional steps I would take. First, run the waterlines as close to the drywall side of the stud as possible. Protect them from screw punctures where they pass thru any studs with steel smash plates. Next, insulate the piping with fibreglass pipe insulation first, then insulate the walls as you typically would with the highest R value insulation you can get for the size framing you have. Spray foam, while a nuisance is a good option on an exterior wall. You'll maximize the freeze protection as much as possible this way. I'm a plumber in Canada and while it's not ideal to have plumbing in an outside wall, this way will give you about the best protection you can hope for short of running heat trace lines on them.
Great video Corey. I had to get my outdoor spigot attached to the house replaced. Now I need to make sure that the spigot and pipe line doesn't freeze again. I will get these products today. We need to make sure we install the right products to prevent this happening again.
THANK YOU ! This is exactly what I was looking for. I need to move my shower plumbing and shower head to the exterior wall because the current layout and design is backward. You enter the shower, at the shower head. I was worried about the pipes freezing, even here in Asheville, NC. The foam board and sealing any air gaps will do the trick for sure. THANKS !!
Did this work out for you? We are not far away in Knoxville and contemplating doing the same thing for the washer and dryer.
Hey Corey, thank you for taking the time and effort to produce this excellent video tutorial on the proper way to insulate pipes in an exterior wall.
Thank you for your clear and informative tutorials. I really appreciate it.
I agree, thank you!
Thanks for your great advice insulating around electrical pipes and hot water pipes. Just the help I needed. Excellent videos!
I REALLY LIKE your video...I have a wall in my master bathroom that is on an exterior wall. I would like to use your ideas that you suggested in your video...what type of foam board should I get. I have no idea which brand or R rating of Foam Board I should get...or the type of insulation I should purchase...Would appreciate your thoughts on the best product to get for the Foam Board and Insulation...thanks in advance for your time - greatly appreciated.
I really like your idea of foamboard and Great Stuff. I saw it in your 'Poor Man's Spray Foam' vid, too. Great idea. I think fiberglass mats are a waste of time and energy due to air migration through them, but a solid, air-tight mass like spray foam, foamboard, and your excellent foamboard/Great Stuff technique is the way to go. Thanks!
The previous owner of my house used pex to connect the bathroom to the water supply. The problem was not only was the pex run up along side the main vent pipe but also the guy thought it would be a great idea to use zip ties to secure the water lines to the CAST IRON vent pipe! I live in northern Canada! The pipes froze but didn't burst. After cutting some holes in the wall (where I discovered what the guy did), the pipes thawed. I immediately cut the zip ties and used the foam pipe wrap. No more frozen pipes!
and of course yet better advice is "dont put your plumbing into outdoor walls as much as possible possible, use indoor walls instead". Foam board is also great solution because if you compress that wool, you will get lower R-value
“These pipes can never burst” unless they are cast-iron waste pipes. Should these be replaced with ABS or PVC? Thanks for the helpful tips on insulating. Also, what can be done for sound deadening? What works well for cutting down sound through plastic drain?
Again Cory, another great video. I have a concrete block home and wonder if you might some day do a video about how to properly insulate and exterior wall of that type of home? Look forward to watching it if you do. I'm a subscriber so I'm sure I'll see it sooner or later. Thanks.
Corey i'm sorry just found your reply from my last question.
I really do appreciate your taking time to respond.
Still would really like to find small cans of foam for odd jobs.
Hope your family is well!
Thanks again take care
Dennis
I used Rockwool insulation. It has higher R value than fiberglass.
I have three sections in my home where I plan on dropping the hot recirc line down into the cavity (between 16" oc 2x4's) and back up to allow it to get as close to the fixture as possible. I'm having a difficult time coming up with a solution to both insulate the pex with closed cell tubing AND securing it to the sides of the 2x4. I can't find any stand off pex support brackets. I'm curious if I split rockwool insulation in half and great stuffed the seems of the framing off if that would do the trick or work even better?
I guess it all depends where you live. In N.E New Jersey I think there’s still a good chance those supply lines would freeze
Awesome demo - thank you!
I have a question....Which type of foam board do I use if I have to insulate plumbing on the outside wall of a 150 year old house? Will the foam board work just as well on a stone basement wall?
hahahaha, I did not do that, but thankfullly i have not sealed the sheetrock...i sqeezed insulation all over the place and yours is so neat. but I am not finished and the idea of splitting the insulation is a very neat idea...we are so cold here right now in CO so back at it, thanks
or... notch the side of the joists and plates instead of drilling in the middle and put regular fiberglass behind!?
Is it ok to put generic pink insulation over (cover) them instead of under as in the video?
Do they make "great stuff" foam in the small job size can.
I hate wasting half a can when i'm just handy maning round the house.
that little bit of foam board is enough to stop freezing even in -10° weather?
Thanks Corey! My only problem is I have a wall already up and was wondering what the best way would be to insulate without tearing down the wall? Any suggestions?
Tim Mayer you could seal small gaps but you probably have to tear, sorry.
Cut a small slot at the top fill it with expanding foam and patch the whole
How about pipes the vent to roof, how do you keep water from going in during a rain?
Can you use the pool noodle style long black foam sleeve around the pipe and then add the batten insulation on top of this? Or are those foam sleeves only used for exposed pipes?
Good Advice, again Corey. Sharing.
This is a great video, Thank you for making it. Lots of info and easy to understand
Great video, thanks!
Is this method supposed to be better than the K -flex foam pipe insulation (advertized above)? I'm thinking maybe foam board as the first layer...Great Stuff around the perimeter....AND foam pipe insulation around pipes....then 1/2 thickness of fiberglass insulation to cover. Can anyone think of a reason this might not be a good idea? I'm about to add a small kitchen and bath and most of the plumbing fixtures are on outside walls (in Kansas).
How did it go after 1 yr? Are your pipes holding up well against the KS winters?
Awesome video thanks again..
Thanks Core...great explanations...helped me finish my bathroom
Great tutorial!
i have pex pipe. can i seal gaps with foam or will it hurt the pex pipe?
Buen trabajo buddy , you got new subs.
I have a situation where I have the waste pipe and it has been insulated around it before but clearly not enough as ice formed on the inside of the insulation. What is your recommendation to insulate around the large waste pipe?
why wouldnt you go ahead and put the first bat of insulation over the foam board insulation. Then just use the rest of the insulation as normal?Would it be because of the foam insulation spray?
just had new kitchen fitted, I have small kitchen. The problem I have is there are heating pipes behind where my fridge freezer is. From what I read online having a radiator or heating pipes can cause fire risk.
what do I use to insulate the heating pipes (to stop heat escaping, so that the area behind the fridge will be kept cool)
any advice?
Excuse my English, hope I have explained my point clearly.
Fiberglass pipe insulation, with what's called an "All service Jacket", sized to the pipe's OD.
What if it is a gas pipe going through a detached garage wall?
How do you feel about putting pipe insulation around the pipes along with your method?
Good job on the videos, BTW, very informative thank you.
That's an interesting question.
That's exactly what I've done. Foam pipe wrap with insulation everywhere else.
Is it ok to use great stuff foam around metal junction boxes?
If you are using poly instead of paper covered insulation, would you leave the poly off that section where you put the foam board since you would have two vapour barriers...poly and the foam board...and increase risk of moisture between them?
That's a good question... I did this same method on my cottage and I decided that the foam board is also the vapour barrier ... It seems that there is also a great deal of controversy surrounding the necessity of using vapour barriers. Although it appears that having two vapour barriers is a definite no no
You need to be at 2” before Foamboard acts as a vapour barrier. Anything less and you use 6 mil plastic.
Can the pipes create pressure on foam in Winter? Cheers.
I had a washing machine line burst right as I walked by.. lucky duck shut it off in 30 seconds still a mess.. now I only use stainless lines and a shutoff valve.. single lever... period
Air sealing is what keeps cold air from getting in - not insulation. Insulation is for inhibiting the radiation - outward - of heat. These are two different jobs taken care of by two totally different things.
Good pointers. But the big thing is to not put water pipes in exterior walls to begin with.
I've heard a few times you can not use great stuff around pvc pipes
Greatness! 👍🏼thnx
Good stuff. Thanks Corey
From 3:10 with a foam board insulation, does anyone know what temperatures is it good for? Is he talking Texas temps or Colorado ones?
Have you got a union card mate .??
Your plumbing should never be on the outside of your vapor barrier. It should always be on the inside of the vapor barrier so there is no chance of condensation and cause mold.
how do i insulate pvc and water heater pipes in my attic?
Fiberglass insulation batting was not designed to prevent pipes from freezing. Compressing, cutting, splitting these insulation types makes them less effective AND COULD MAKE THE INSTALLER OF EITHER THE PIPES OR THE INSULATION LIABLE for any frozen pipes. This should also apply to the manufacturer who recommends this practice as well . Pipe wrap insulation was also NOT DESIGNED to prevent pipes from freezing. See www.freezeblocker.com ..The only engineered freeze protection pipe - building insulation system DESIGNED to prevent pipes installed in unheated building cavities and spaces from freezing!
thanks
in the real world slipping insulation behind pipes is not as easy as you claim due to the protruding nails from the outside chum
Jogo g cut the nails, lazy
😎✌️
Please start a tool company. (;
Where is your face mask ??? Fiberglass is bad stuff for your lungs !!!
Not really that bad.