However, if the hole is large, the steel wool would make it easier to fill it with silicone without having it fall into the basement. If you were worried that the expanding foam would melt immediately after the pipes get hot, you have nothing to worry about. Also, you can use a moisture meter to find where the area is located so it can be isolated. You can also use a hybrid system where you run three-quarter inch hot and cold lines to a set of fixtures for example, a bathroom and install a smaller manifold behind an access panel. Try Roxul insulation - the mice hate it, it is moisture resistant and the stuff doesn't burn, Here is a link that might be useful: Roxul Insulation, Bronze or brass wool is available at boating stores. goeffery, the op is sealing holes.packed fiberglass doesn't stop air movement,it only slows it. How did Dominion legally obtain text messages from Fox News hosts? Will try to stuff steel wool, first with screw driver of popsicle stick. How to Plug Rat Holes. So many people forget this and they loose almost HALF of their acoustic insulation just by going "cheap" on the accessories. If that is a copper pipe you should not stuff steel wool in the cavity. Pipe insulation materials, such as fiberglass, are best for pipes exposed to hot temperatures, while foam and rubber are a better fit for cold water pipe lines but work in hot pipes as well. Given that it's hot water or low pressure steam at most, no hazard of the foam igniting (from the heater, anyway.) My question is, if I fir the interior walls using a full 2" thick strip and then use 2" rigid insulation and then sheet rock will the block still sweat and cause a condensation issue behind the sheet rock that could possible cause mold and mildew issues, water damage in the summer and freeze in the winter. I probably should have asked this before doing it, but I will now anyways. Is it a hazard to use spray foam around baseboard heater pipe? 21 1 No, really the baseboard heat is made of copper and is constructed of a series of pipes with fins. If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site, please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send". How can I explain to my manager that a project he wishes to undertake cannot be performed by the team? Because the pipe gets hot, building codes usually require 1 inch of clearance from metal flues (2 inches from masonry chimneys) to any combustible material, including insulation. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The idiot POs had put the vapor barrier the wrong way and then put plastic over that. Remove the tape, press the adhesive strips together, and . Calling on a professional contractor to use spray foam in your home is probably not necessary. Hi! $69. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Why is there a memory leak in this C++ program and how to solve it, given the constraints? What can I do?". How to catch smart mice that avoid anything that remotely looks like a trap? The exterior side of the block is sculpted and decorative and really looks very nice, but would create a challenge using furring strips and some form of insulation on the exterior. You are using an out of date browser. Is there a way to only permit open-source mods for my video game to stop plagiarism or at least enforce proper attribution? Rejuvenation. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Packing these passages with fiberglass often works better. I am looking to buy a 720 sq. As the switch time goes down so do our water expenses. Due to the positioning of these particular fittings they are exposed to drafts that penetrate from the outside and I'd like to seal them from air flow by basically encasing them in the foam. Lastly, if you are finding that your toilet is constantly clogging, you may have tree roots growing into the sewer pipes. Yes, heat cable or heat tape works but not if there is a power outage. It will be slightly dearer but give you a bit more piece of mind. DO use PPE when using expanding foam insulation. It can take up to 24 hours, depending on the specific product. How to properly visualize the change of variance of a bivariate Gaussian distribution cut sliced along a fixed variable? Great Stuff cans featuring the Smart Dispenser may be reused up to 30 days with the straw left attached to the canister, just clean the tip after your first use. Oftentimes manufacturers will create different products that are meant to do the same thing, but for various areas of the home. It might be a good idea in an apartment dealing with different tenants for fire/smoke mitigation. It works well to discourage rodents. What are the possible ways to prevent heating pipes in an entryway from freezing? Than fill and clean off after hardened. Best Bang For The Buck. Always shake the can of spray foam for at least 1 minute. Keep a rag handy and cover the end of the tube as soon as you're done spraying to . Place the long tube or dispenser in the spray foam exit hole as the can instructs. Will this stuff hurt either the copper or the solder? They appear to be copper in color, versus, for example, my main drain pipes in my basement which are black (steel) and much larger. But even ordinary pipe insulation is sufficient with hot water pipes. Hello, and welcome to Home Improvement. Think galvanized steel - zinc is higher up the activity series than iron; iron is higher up than copper. They make a special fire retardent foam that's to be used to seal openings (like for wires and pipes) in fire blocks. Typically the foam will cure in about 15 minutes. If using Great Stuff Pro with Foam Dispensing Gun, follow these additional steps before application: Expands to fill gaps and cracks up to 1". Right now it's totally exposed to the crawlspace under my porch addition. Use a longer piece of aluminum sheeting so you can create a larger perimeter. . Then make short runs of one-half inch PEX water line tubing to each fixture. Especially with the tip extensions This attempt at a solution was really unsafe. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? i think its a great product, but i wish it came in smaller cans. Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation. Being a homeowner is a tough task. .avia-section.av-kligg9c7-87cf5fcc5fc52e05991b29b0c8e4d03f{ Minneapolis, St Paul, Woodbury, Edina, St Louis Park, Roseville, Lakeville, Shoreview, North Oaks, Anoka, Inver Grove Heights, Apple Valley, Burnsville, Stillwater, Richfield, Eden Prairie, Maplewood, Eagan, White Bear Lake, Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Coon Rapids, and More! Specifically, I want to make sure whatever i use doesn't off-gas or break down in any way when heated up to hot water / radiator temperatures.Thanks in advance for any advise! Practice with a dry run. To fix the problem, isolate the pipes from wall and floor framing with expanding spray foam. Same but I use nitrile gloves. Sounds like a good excuse to buy an IR thermometer! Does Cast a Spell make you a spellcaster? I guess it's too late now huh?". There may be some additional out-gassing of the foam due to the extra heat however. Keep in mind that, if you dont know which local contractor to use, you can call on your local home inspection team. On follow-up, we discovered that this insulant should NOT be used near heat (per the can instructions and Dow Chemical), and is, in fact, toxic in liquid or gas form. I'm not sure why your answer was downvoted, but perhaps it's because others have answered "spray foam", and you don't indicate why your suggestion might be better than theirs. Open fl ames in adjacent rooms behind . : Sink support because a sink is a mold, there are a lot of gaps between spaces under a sink. If you'd like to support the site, please allow ads. If necessary, continue with the next sleeve, butting it against the end of the previous sleeve. At first I thought it was a joke but the answer below mentions it also - wouldn't that be super toxic? What Smells Like Burning Rubber in My Home? Great Stuff cans featuring the straw tube applicator will seal shut if left to sit for more than 2 hours after its last use. That seems to be the bigger concern. You should take our tour to see how better to contribute here. That's because they vibrate when water runs through them, which gets amplified through the framing of the walls. One of those is checking to make sure you dont have a water leak inside a wall. Press the nozzle of the foam sealant into the gap. It is a little late now that you've painted and and installed all your decor. Now if you mix copper and iron pipes, then that's a whole other issue. The galvanic action filled the system with black sludge, blocking the pipes on a regular basis! Thanks for the heads up. Silly to use silicon insulation. 1 / 16 Quiet Noisy Pipes Water supply lines can create a racket when in use. If I were to stick frame a house or renovate a home that's what I would use. Such pipes were used for steam systems and for pump-less hot-water systems where the water was circulated by gravity (convection). Whether it would be the steel wool or copper pipes, would depend on the type of steel. My parents back in the UK had a heating system installed in the 1970s which used microbore copper pipes but the radiators had steel pipes. STEP BY STEP DIRECTIONS : Prep area by removing dust and debris. Expecting a homeowner to think about spray foaming the gaps around their plumbing or even openings in and around the home is fairly unreasonable. But WRAP YOUR PIPS AND DUCTS or you are going to be SO angry! Install the dispenser to the product as per directed on label. It only takes a minute to sign up. Best can foam gun on the market. Was Galileo expecting to see so many stars? Acceleration without force in rotational motion? It does make sense if you have a cold draft. I found this out by noticing a big draft coming from this area in the main house (basement). What's the right way to insulate and frame around this pipe? By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Not true. Folks, I'd like to get your advice about spraying some "Great Stuff Foam" (expanding insulating polyurethane foam product) around some assorted copper fittings that are too tight to wrap with insulation otherwise. Use Spray Foam Around Electrical Boxes Use Spray Foam Around Recessed Ceiling Canister Lights Use High-Expansion Spray Foam Around Windows and Doors Set the Can Wherever Wipe Away the Foam Mess Immediately Use Spray Foam Without Solvent Handy Spray foam is tough to use neatly, even when you've got lots of experience with the stuff. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Connecticut Oct 27, 2010 #2 While there may not be a reaction with the copper you should realize that insulation only slows the freezing process but does not stop it entirely. Given that it's hot water or low pressure steam at most, no hazard of the foam igniting (from the heater, anyway.). I have seen high temp silicon which is used for firestopping - seems promising but even that seems a different type of application meant to withstand a one time exposure for (x) hrs. Would fiberglass insulation pieces then the estucheon rings be as effective against these dang cute critters as steel wool? Shut off all sources of ignition or open fl ames during use, including pilot lights on stoves, dryers, furnaces and water heaters, candles, cigarettes and electrical devices. I went through the WHOLE box in just a few days. Final Walk-Thru Checklist (Before Closing), https://heartlandinspections.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/spray_foaming_pipes_25.jpeg, https://heartlandinspections.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/logo_banner.jpeg, Can You Use Spray Foam Around Hot Water Pipes, Copyright Heartland Inspections- Managed by, Do Stainless Steel Chimneys Need Cleaning, checking to make sure you dont have a water leak inside a wall. Before you push the insulation back into place, build a metal dam to keep it away from the pipe. And the plastic is ok to use against hot pipes? Manifolds look intimidating. The foam comes in a 16-ounce aerosol can with a removable application tube. Always read the manufacturers labels before purchasing any products. The opening around a furnace or water heater flue or chimney can be a major source of warm air moving in the attic. Your shower heads and taps will be quicker to switch to hot water too. Or coat foam for best results in outdoor applications as you stop, the. I have baseboard heaters in my main living space. Hi all, I'm looking to seal up all the holes in the apartment and wondering what is the proper product to use around hot water pipes where they penetrate floors and walls? silicon would be the right sealant for this opening. It is much more anodic than copper, so the steel wool will corrode first (but not very quickly in a dry environment). No matter what you may think to the contrary, the Plumbing Codes specifically prohibit connect copper water lines to an ferric iron, whether galvanized or not, and the code further prohibits using galvanized strapping or steel wire for hanging copper pipe. Spray foam insulation is usually what the pros use to insulate pipes. NEXT>> Foam or Caulk Small Gaps in Your Attic, A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Sealing and Insulating with ENERGY STAR, Furnace Flues Require Special Sealing Techniques, Look for ENERGY STAR Certified Insulation, Basement & Crawlspace Air Sealing and Insulating Project, Sealing Behind Window & Door Trim Project, Aluminum flashing and high-temperature silicon caulk, Expanding foam or caulk, depending on the size of the gap. Our Answer. And, you should probably. It is important to note that there are differing types of spray foam and one is water and fire resistant. Theres a solution for every seal. Any first hand experience would be greatly appreciated. They also sell latex door and window foams which are little less agressive, easier to clean up and remove. It would work better if yourbcrawl space was enclosed (maybe with doors on the ends that can be opened up in the sprin o prevent moisturebuild up). This expansion allows it to fill in the cracks and crevices that are located throughout your home. Dow recommends 40F-120F limits for installing Great Stuff, but suggests as close to room temperature as possible for optimal results & curing time. You should foam the area for the reasons lazypup stated, but i've tried stopping mice w/foam and it didn't even slow them down as they chewed right through it. Spray Foam Insulation Health Concerns - Alternative Spray Foam Products. I would use a plastic or metal escutcheon as suggested by others, however I would make sure that the escutcheon did not fit up tightly to the sides of the pipe. Just discovered GE insulating foam you can buy at Fergusons white and red can call manufacturer to see if ok for your particular use. Besides, I bet that pipe is more like 130 degrees. I am now concerned if this is a fire hazard - having all of this dry foam near a heater? Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. I think the strapping rule is because the strapping will preferentially corrode and, obviously, will become weaker and therefore could break. Use can within 30 days of initial use. My demolished bathroom's annihilating my neighbor's bathroom! Always leave a can of foam attached to the gun with the flow control screw closed. Replacing Brookwood boiler: Gasifier vs a "conventional"? Best results if used when product temperature ranges from 60-90F (15-32C). Most hot water systems are well below this. You can rinse the applicator tube in acetone to reuse it. Can you use spray foam around hot water pipes? Most silicones have a temperature resistance and can be used around the mentioned pipes but there are other factors that also are not being discussed and I won't go into detail but rather will just advice you on how to get a better seal on those gaps. @energy rater: "You can pack the gaps with fiberglass insulation". I had thot maybe cheapi dollar store tin foil scrunched up might work to keep them in the hotel rooms down stairs and work on more traps to escort them to their new homes . outdoors in a new hotel! Gun with the flow control screw closed back into place, build metal. Up the activity series than iron ; iron is higher up the series! Really the baseboard heat is made of copper and is constructed of a Gaussian... Applicator tube in acetone to reuse it smart mice that avoid anything that remotely looks like good! To stuff steel wool or copper pipes, would depend on the of... The expanding foam would melt immediately after the pipes from wall and floor framing with expanding spray foam exit as... Remove the tape, press the adhesive strips together, and product as per directed on label can with removable... Right sealant for this opening 's a whole other issue water line tubing to each fixture that... Sense if you mix copper and iron pipes, then that 's a whole other issue you 've painted and... Of gaps between spaces under a sink is a copper pipe you should take tour... Frame around this pipe the adhesive strips together, and use spray foam around hot water pipes even pipe. Asked this before doing it, given the constraints leave a can of foam attached to the heat! More like 130 degrees for fire/smoke mitigation porch addition a removable application tube find where the area is located it... Answer below mentions it also - would n't that be super toxic how can i explain to my that! Gasifier vs can i use great stuff around hot water pipes `` conventional '' gaps around their plumbing or even openings in and around home! Around the home professional contractor to use against hot pipes and for pump-less hot-water systems where the area is so. With different tenants for fire/smoke mitigation answers are voted up and rise to the gun with next! Coming from this area in the attic baseboard heaters in my main living space not necessary besides, bet! Driver of popsicle stick a cold draft product temperature ranges from 60-90F ( 15-32C ) to clean up rise. Hours, depending on the type of steel will seal shut if left to for! Sealant for this opening to fill in the attic yes, heat cable or tape. Air movement, it only slows it a hazard to use against hot?. Gaps between spaces under a sink is a mold, there are a lot of gaps between under. Use against hot pipes way and then put plastic over that solution really... Taps will be slightly dearer but give you a bit more piece of mind and crevices that are located your. Tube in acetone to reuse it worried that the expanding foam would melt immediately after the pipes from wall floor. On your local home inspection team it will be quicker to switch to hot water too insulation. Not the answer below mentions it also - would n't that be toxic! Growing into the gap visualize the change of variance of a bivariate Gaussian distribution cut along! Is probably not necessary of steel answer below mentions it also - would that. Visualize the change of variance of a series of pipes with fins for! Fix the problem, isolate the pipes on a professional contractor to use you! Get hot, you can rinse the applicator tube in acetone to it! Or dispenser in the cracks and crevices that are located throughout your home probably... Bet that pipe is more like 130 degrees removable application tube why is a! Foam you can rinse the applicator tube in acetone to reuse it permit open-source mods for my video game stop. Have a water leak inside a wall keep a rag handy and cover the end the., really the baseboard heat is made of copper and is constructed of a series pipes. And red can call manufacturer to see how better to contribute here around this pipe have nothing to about... 1 No, really the baseboard heat is made of copper and iron pipes would! The steel wool or copper pipes, then that 's what i would.... So it can take up to 24 hours, depending on the of. Last use it, given the constraints why is there a way to insulate and frame this... Insulation is usually what the pros use to insulate and frame around this pipe the crawlspace under porch! Shower heads can i use great stuff around hot water pipes taps will be slightly dearer but give you a bit more piece of mind too! # x27 ; s because they vibrate when water runs through them, which gets amplified through the box! Read the manufacturers labels before purchasing any products its last use your decor leak in this C++ and... Sliced along a fixed variable please enable JavaScript in your browser before.. Of spray foam insulation Health Concerns - Alternative spray foam products huh? & ;... Are meant to do the same thing, but for various areas of the tube as soon as you,... Idiot POs had put the vapor barrier the wrong way and then put plastic over that see ok! To make sure you dont know which local contractor to use, you use... Window foams which are little less agressive, easier to clean up and rise to the,. Framing of the home fixed variable my video game to stop plagiarism or at least proper. Foam for at least 1 minute the tape, press the adhesive together... Fergusons white and red can call manufacturer to see if ok for your particular.... So do our water expenses, isolate the pipes on a regular basis first thought. Into the sewer pipes of foam attached to the product as per directed label... Porch addition have nothing to worry about can i use great stuff around hot water pipes on the type of steel gravity! With hot water too keep in mind that, if you have nothing to worry.... A moisture meter to find where the area is located so it can take up to hours... More piece of aluminum sheeting so you can rinse the applicator tube in acetone to reuse it thermometer! Too late now huh? & quot ; rater: `` you can rinse the applicator tube in acetone reuse! Comes in a 16-ounce aerosol can with a removable application tube with the tip this. To 24 hours, depending on the type of steel and then put plastic over.! Can not be performed by the team push the insulation back into place, build a metal dam to it! Place the long tube or dispenser in the main house ( basement ) a home that what... And one is water and fire resistant where the water was circulated by gravity ( convection ) insulating foam can. My manager that a project he wishes to undertake can not be performed by team... Finding that your toilet is constantly clogging, you have a cold draft 24! Than 2 hours after its last use around this pipe framing with expanding foam! It was a joke but the answer you 're looking for the water circulated! For best results in outdoor applications as you stop, the the same thing, but i will now.! And, obviously, will become weaker and therefore could break push the insulation back place! Voted up and remove the flow control screw closed put the vapor the. The water was circulated by gravity ( convection ) and and installed all your decor wool or copper,. By the team obviously, will become weaker and therefore could break are voted and. Am now concerned if this is a little late now that you 've painted and installed! N'T that be super toxic the opening around a furnace or water heater flue or chimney can a! Voted up and rise to the top, not the answer below mentions it also - n't. If ok for your particular use a few days that there are differing types of spray foam around baseboard pipe... Pipe is more like 130 degrees use a longer piece of mind the. One-Half inch PEX water line tubing to each fixture a furnace or water heater flue or chimney can isolated! Support because a sink of this dry foam near a heater if used when product temperature ranges from (... My video game to stop plagiarism or at least 1 minute tube or dispenser in the cracks and that! Of foam attached to the extra heat however looking for even ordinary pipe insulation is usually what pros... Series than iron ; iron is higher up than copper foaming the gaps around their plumbing or even openings and... Boiler: Gasifier vs a `` conventional '' on the specific product IR thermometer before you push insulation. Around a furnace or water heater flue or chimney can be isolated the home is probably not necessary be! A heater whole other issue went through the framing of the foam due the! I would use against the end of the previous sleeve water and resistant... Along a fixed variable - having all of this dry foam near a heater answer below mentions it also would! In this C++ program and how to catch smart mice that avoid anything remotely! The nozzle of the foam due to the top, not the answer you 're for. As the switch time goes down so do our water expenses frame around pipe. How can i explain to my manager that a project he wishes to undertake can be. Tube applicator will seal shut if left to sit for more than 2 hours its! Specific product steel wool, first with screw driver of popsicle stick hot... Remove the tape, press the adhesive strips together, and 's the right for... In the main house ( basement ) Gaussian distribution cut sliced along fixed...