fridge water line insulation

[eduardostewart]

hi guys,

my fridge water line is run and right next to my main cold water line. then my hot water line is run parallel and close to the cold line. anyone see a problem with me wrapping the hot and both cold pipes all together so that the radiant heat from the hot water prohibits freezing on the cold lines?

 

[nehog]

Unless you're running a recirculator I doubt there will be enough radiated heat to prevent freezing.

 

[eduardostewart]

im fine with that. long story short i was in the crawlspace to tackle a job that didnt go as planned. didnt think it would harm the plastic line so i just wrapped it all together. as long as it's safe im good.

 

[CNGsaves]

Tell us more . . . . . you've got unheated crawlspace and worried about various cold water lines freezing ??

WHERE you located ?? Update GJ Profile with your information.

If your fridge water line is the puncture type into copper and then plastic line, have you had any leaks yet ?? While you're making updates, put in permanent T with proper fittings, instead of the puncture type (ie "saddle" valves). Those are notorious for leaking and causing problems.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

If your fridge water line is the puncture type into copper and then plastic line, have you had any leaks yet ?? While you're making updates, put in permanent T with proper fittings, instead of the puncture type (ie "saddle" valves). Those are notorious for leaking and causing problems.

Good points. It's also not recommended to run fridge water lines too close to hot water lines as it introduces extra heat into the water, increasing ice maker freeze time and also the cold water spigot temp.

Saddle valves are also not code in many areas. Not that it's any huge emergency to change one out if it's not causing any issues.

Tommy

 

[eduardostewart]

i bought all the stuff to run the auto-heat cables to install in my crawlspace. when i finally got back as far as i could, i couldn't get all the way back to where i believe the pipes freeze in the winter. so the whole job was a lost cause. While i was there, with the foil-backed pipe insulation in-hand, i figured i might as well wrap the cold(along with the fridge line right against it) and the hot line together. The hard cold and hot line touch at one end and are about 4 inches apart at the other end. i thought it through as best as i could and couldn't see any real harm or danger in doing so. It was just basically while i was in there...i figure any radiant heat from the hot water line could just breathe on the cold line. I know it's not going to do much at all, my only concern is that it's safe.

 

[eduardostewart]

oh and i don't think the fridge line was installed with the puncture type, at least i don't remember seeing anything odd like that.

 

[volleyball]

I think it is only not code for professionals to install the puncture valves.
There is no way we can give reliable help for this situation.
I do think a plastic line would be better for a crawl space that would be subject to freezing.

 

[dogdog]

why won't you guys just get something like this and tap it from the facet closest to the fridge ? add an extra inline shutoff for the 1/4 tubes... and be happy with it.

....price seems to went up mine was $9 when i got it yrs back. Lowes also sells them.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/BrassCra...et-1-4-Turn-Ball-Valve-KTCR1901X-R1/205214469

As far as radiant heat from hot water line....
you know the hot water line gets cold when hot water is not flowing through the lines, it won't be warm/hot until hot water flows through it. Unless you are using hot water 24/7.... it's not offering too much againist freezing / bursting.

 

[eduardostewart]

guys, you're missing my whole point. my fridge line is fine. i know wrapping them isn't really worth anything. i just wanted to make sure it was ok to wrap everything together

 

[rburke65]

I don't think you re going to hurt a thing by doing that.

 

[CNGsaves]

guys, you're missing my whole point. my fridge line is fine. i know wrapping them isn't really worth anything. i just wanted to make sure it was ok to wrap everything together

^ ^ Are you . . "freezing" . . . in Florida or Canada ???

 

[eduardostewart]

in between, PA

 

[volleyball]

As long as you don have dissimilar metal, it should be fine.

 

[eduardostewart]

copper hot and cold main and plastic fridge run right with the cold copper