When running pipe from a slab to an attic use cross linked polyethylene tubing or pex instead of copper.
Pex piping in attics.
Pex tubing or piping is used for water supply lines as well as radiant floor heating.
Pex is available in a variety of lengths from short 10 foot pieces for small repairs to rolls over 500 feet long which are used to install a home s entire water supply system.
Yes the cold water is hot in the summer very hot in fact due to the heat of the attic.
Insulation only slows the time when it will freeze after the water is not running through the pipe.
Yes rodents will chew absoultely eveything they step on.
It is important to insulate pex pipe in an attic particularly in cold weather areas.
Such as at night if the attic temp is 15 deg f.
Cross linked polyethylene tubing better known as pex pipe has revolutionized plumbing installations in new home construction and remodeling.
Sometimes they have been insulated makes very little difference to the temp on a july or august afternoon.
It may give it an extra hour before it freezes solid.
What is pex plumbing.
Foam is used most commonly and generally works well.
Pex type is forgiving when it freezes as far as breakage but insulating an exposed water line does little to keep it from freezing.
Safe for potable water pex is the red and blue flexible tubing that s used to make gentle bends around obstructions in your attic and is perfect for adding water supply to hard to reach locations.
The surface of pex piping can become grimy over time so before insulating you should take just a few minutes to clean it off.
Pex cpvc poly back in the day even copper in the attics etc.
Because pex piping is flexible it is often used in angles loops or other non linear shapes which makes it imperative to have equally flexible insulation material.
A wet rag should easily wipe away any visible dirt or debris.
While pex does not ordinarily burst in the cold the water in the pipes can still freeze.