Outside Water Line Insulation

[SMOKEEATERFF]

I live in South Alabama for starters. I have 3 outside faucets with 1" pipe reduced down to 3/4" pip with a hose bibb. The pipe sticks out of the ground approximately 18". I placed the foam insulation on the pipe about a year ago and it has rotted away. I was thinking of placing a larger diameter section of pvc over it and filling it with sand to help insulate it. It would also give more protection while weedeating. Has anyone ever done this? If so how well did it work? Or do you have a better suggestion? Thanks

 

[kbs2244]

And you want to do this because?
Can I guess that you are not a native?
Pipes do not freeze often in South Alabama.
Check your neighbors and do whatever they are doing.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I was thinking of placing a larger diameter section of pvc over it ...

Good idea.

... and filling it with sand to help insulate it.

Sand has no insulation value. Fill the space between the 2 pipes with loose pieces of fiberglass insulation. Cap the top so that the water can not get into the insulation. You could even use a big glob of caulk.

Or do you have a better suggestion? Thanks

A frost proof hydrant

 

[BillK]

ff,
I am in the Washington DC area and have never had a pipe freeze. Probably just jinxed myself I cant imagine even worrying about it in Alabama.

 

[ACDNate]

And you want to do this because?
Can I guess that you are not a native?
Pipes do not freeze often in South Alabama.
Check your neighbors and do whatever they are doing.

I'm a wee bit west of you MS. We had a bunch of folks with busted pipes this past winter. Of course that was an unusual cold snap. Just saying it can happen.

 

[rustybutt]

Put the larger PVC over it and fill with one of the spray foams. No worry about getting wet, but you might have to top it off after 7-10 years when the foam deteriorates a bit! What I did.

 

[southalabama]

I'm in south alabama too.

We had a rare ice storm earlier this year. Freaked everyone out. I was ok until a copper pipe in my office behind a built in bookcase burst.

For my outside spigots on the land I've used foam insulation over the pipe. Then input a larger pvc pipe over the outside. So it's pvc foam pvc. It's held up well.

After the ice storm I looked at frost free stuff but figured for outside pvc it was cheaper to replace it.

I'm 48 and it's only snowed four times or so in my life. This years ice storm was a first.

 

[Angelfire]

Does the pipe originate from outside the house or is it coming from heated space? If coming up from a line outside, insulation won't do a thing. Insulation needs a heat source to do anything.

 

[J Persons]

I use the black foam insulation on exposed pipes and Styrofoam faucet freeze protector covers. Our winters are not normally harsh, but several times last winter the temps dropped into the upper teens at night. I did have a unprotected faucet freeze last winter, but the ones that were protected didn't freeze. To reinforce the foam pipe insulation, I wrap it in duct tape. You could also form a shield from some 20 ga sheet metal, held in place with some large hose clamps.

 

[Fishplate]

A frost proof hydrant

^^^^^^^ This. Why mess around? Why take a chance?


Do a job right, and you don't have to do it again.

 

[jkwilson]

In S Alabama, just turn the water on at a trickle if it gets below freezing.

Insulation outdoors isn't really going to help much unless you cover a patch of ground too, to retain that heat. There is little heat to retain in just the pipe. On a house wall or foundation, insulation might help, but if it is cold enough to really freeze the water in the pipe, insulation is only going to slow it down a little, and practically none if you leave the spigot exposed.

 

[G McKay]

If it is like the ones in the pictures- I thought they shut off down underground below the freeze point. Or, doesn't it shut off inside the nearest building? Or, couldn't you use heated electrical tape?

 

[SMOKEEATERFF]

Yes I am a native of Alabama and like others have said it does drop below freezing here. Mostly at night. I dripped the faucets last year but they still froze a couple of times. That's why I was asking this question. I don't have a way to heat them. I may wrap them in the foam insulation or spray foam and then place a section of larger diameter pvc over it

 

[kbs2244]

Well, in reviewing what the locals have said, I will take back what I said.

In retrospect, I would go with the frost proof hydrant.