Insulation for ice-maker water line

We just got a new refrigerator in our apartment, and we're trying to convince our landlord to let us route a water line to the other side of the kitchen so that we can use the ice-maker. The proposed solution is to run tubing up through the attic and then back down to where the fridge is. This is fine with him, but we live in the Northeast, so he is worried about it freezing in the winter because of the low flow rate.
Any suggestions about tubing and insulation that could be used to prevent winter freezing for this application? The main concern is that with such a low flow rate normal pipe insulation may not be sufficient.

You could always put heat tape on it. However, if the pipe is run directly on top of the ceiling joist, and there are several inches if insulation on top of it, and the house is kept heated you should be fine. I'm assuming the joist are filled to the top with insulation so there would be no gaps between the insulation you would be adding above the pipe. The heat loss through the ceiling is usually sufficient to prevent freezing.

Our home is in the northern mid-atlantic area, and all plumbing is in an unheated atic without any problems.

Just putting the pipe in the atic with pipe insulation will not keep the water from freezing.

Paul

I essentially agree with Paul, but you could still put foam insulation around the pipe before you bury it in the insulation. Also, if you first scrape away the insulation where the pipe will go so that the pipe will lie on top of the ceiling, then cover it with insulation, the heat from the heated rooms below will provide ample heat to prevent freezing.

Also being from the northeast that is not an install I recommend. However, you have received some good info above. If I was to install it I would use plastic tubing as opposed to copper and see if you can fish it between the sheetrock and joists, there should be a 3/4" gap there from the strapping.But, it is a shame you can't somehow keep it in the warm kitchen, going thru cabinets,clipping along the top of wood trim etc.

By the way, copper is my first choice in installs. However, in this case plastic is more flexible and you don't have to worry about it kinking as easily as copper. Also, if it was to freeze the plastic may not split and only expand as opposed to the copper you can almost bet it will split and create a small flood.

So if I were to use plastic tubing, and just ran it across the ceiling in the kitchen, it wouldn't freeze in the winter?
Is the plaster on the ceiling really that effective that it blocks out all of the heat from the kitchen? It seems like if it is ok to run it on the inside, it would be ok to run it on just the other side too...
If I decide to do it, what kind of plastic tubing should I use?

There is a big difference between the line being in the warm kitchen and the cold attic. Even though it is only 1/2" difference it is all the difference in the world!! Check out your'e attic this winter, I'm sure you will hurry back to your'e warm kitchen.
As far as the plastic line most of you're big box stores sell it for ice maker installs.

My only other suggestion would be if you have another tenant below you maybe it would be easier to install a line from that location, without being too intrusive!?