mike0331
New Member
Hi all,
TLDR at the bottom
DIYer here. I am installing a washer/dryer in the closet in a room that was added on to our house prior to us purchasing it. We have a 1940s colonial in the peoples republic of Massachusetts with a large garage added about 10 years ago. 1/4 of that garage was converted to an insulated room approximately 12X16 in size. I have knocked out half a cinder block in the foundation immediately below the sill plate in the basement of the original house, and have about 8" between the slab in the garage and the underside of the joists in the room built in the garage where the washer dryer is to go, so essentially enough space to pass pipe/utilities.
I had a professional run a gas line for a heater in the room after I nixed the electric heat. I have run a PVC drain pipe for the washing machine about 12 feet to the far end of the room.
The water supply is where I'm looking for ideas. I was planning on drilling into the outside sheathing (balloon framed) from in my basement so that I could pass PEX directly under the sub-floor of the room in the joist bay between the vapor barrier of the insulation and the sub-floor. My other idea was to wrap the PEX supply lines in insulation with a thermostat controlled pipe heater, or possibly pass them through a 1.5" PVC conduit with a heating element that could be replaced if need be. My concern here is avoiding pipe freezing. The second idea would certainly be easier, but I have two concerns. 1st: The heating element burning out over time, although it would be easy enough to remove and replace the PEX/heater if need be. 2nd, my plumber has told me he has now heard stories from a couple inspectors of wiring being run alongside PEX (including network cable) causing the PEX to develop pinhole leaks. Both of us where at a loss as to what could be causing this to occur assuming it's true. Maybe the brain trust here has heard something/nothing of this. While I'm no chemist/physicist, I a do have a STEM degree and I'm scratching my head on this one. Any all/thoughts or ideas would be great.
TLDR: 1. Need a way to run supply piping 12 feet through an inaccessible crawl space that dips below freezing
2. Anyone else heard this craziness about electric fields causing damage to PEX piping (makes zero sense to me and my plumber, but he said he's been told by a couple inspectors they have seen this)
Thanks
Mike
TLDR at the bottom
DIYer here. I am installing a washer/dryer in the closet in a room that was added on to our house prior to us purchasing it. We have a 1940s colonial in the peoples republic of Massachusetts with a large garage added about 10 years ago. 1/4 of that garage was converted to an insulated room approximately 12X16 in size. I have knocked out half a cinder block in the foundation immediately below the sill plate in the basement of the original house, and have about 8" between the slab in the garage and the underside of the joists in the room built in the garage where the washer dryer is to go, so essentially enough space to pass pipe/utilities.
I had a professional run a gas line for a heater in the room after I nixed the electric heat. I have run a PVC drain pipe for the washing machine about 12 feet to the far end of the room.
The water supply is where I'm looking for ideas. I was planning on drilling into the outside sheathing (balloon framed) from in my basement so that I could pass PEX directly under the sub-floor of the room in the joist bay between the vapor barrier of the insulation and the sub-floor. My other idea was to wrap the PEX supply lines in insulation with a thermostat controlled pipe heater, or possibly pass them through a 1.5" PVC conduit with a heating element that could be replaced if need be. My concern here is avoiding pipe freezing. The second idea would certainly be easier, but I have two concerns. 1st: The heating element burning out over time, although it would be easy enough to remove and replace the PEX/heater if need be. 2nd, my plumber has told me he has now heard stories from a couple inspectors of wiring being run alongside PEX (including network cable) causing the PEX to develop pinhole leaks. Both of us where at a loss as to what could be causing this to occur assuming it's true. Maybe the brain trust here has heard something/nothing of this. While I'm no chemist/physicist, I a do have a STEM degree and I'm scratching my head on this one. Any all/thoughts or ideas would be great.
TLDR: 1. Need a way to run supply piping 12 feet through an inaccessible crawl space that dips below freezing
2. Anyone else heard this craziness about electric fields causing damage to PEX piping (makes zero sense to me and my plumber, but he said he's been told by a couple inspectors they have seen this)
Thanks
Mike
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