the_joseph•1mo agoProlific Poster

Frozen pipe debate: insulation type matters way more than I thought - or does it?

I was reading the City of Edmonton winter prep guide online last night, and it said spray foam in unheated crawl spaces actually traps moisture next to pipes instead of protecting them. I always figured the thicker the insulation the better, but that stat about a 15% failure rate with the wrong stuff in -30 made me stop. Now I'm torn between spending extra on heat tape or just going with fiberglass batts and hoping for a mild February. Anyone else run into this or have a different take based on actual Edmonton winters?

3 comments

3 Comments

parker_thomas26d ago

So @anthonymurray’s right, at this point I’m half expecting my crawlspace to start coughing up pink fuzz.

murray.spencer1mo ago

Heard a plumber on the radio say fiberglass is fine if you let it breathe a bit.

anthonymurray1mo ago

Let it breathe a bit, huh? Sounds like the plumber's never actually worn a respirator while cutting into a wall full of the stuff. More like you let it breathe and then your lungs are breathing it for the next week. I'd rather trust the guys who look like they're suiting up for a hazmat spill than some radio expert.