Burst pipes

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Jenrice

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Hi! We had a hard freeze this winter and a line to our sprinkler system burst in two places. We had a plumber fix it but I’m concerned about the work he did. It doesn’t leak, but this looks like a temporary fix to me. Am I wrong?
 

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I think he used the tape as a buffer between the coupling (I'm guessing he sweat a coupling in) and the steel strap. Not a bad move. Not the greatest but nothing wrong with it.
 
Pipe insulation is going to make it more likely to freeze.

The pipe needs to be exposed to conditioned air to stay warm.

If the area is totally unheated, even by casual heat leaking into there, then that whole line needs to be drained and blown dry from late fall to spring.
 
First time I’ve ever heard anyone claim that insulating a pipe will make it more likely to freeze.

Could it be true ?????????🤣
 
Insulation prevents the pipe from gaining ambient heat from the surrounding space.
 
Insulation prevents the pipe from gaining ambient heat from the surrounding space.

Then it would also keep it from losing heat.

If the space had heat, it wouldn’t freeze.

It’s common knowledge that insulation slows the freezing process but doesn’t stop it.

Advising not to insulate a pipe because it will make it more likely to freeze is a ridiculous statement.

Sorry buddy.
 
It is losing heat into the portion of the pipe that is outside.

Insulation is not heat tape.

I have run into this many times, with pipes feeding sillcocks, or sump pump discharge lines.

Well-meaning homeowners or plumbers insulate the pipe near the exit out of the house, which prevents basement or crawlspace heat from getting to it.

So the pipe freezes.
 
I’ll keep insulating the pipes as our code requires, because it’s effective, it’s law and I agree with it.

✌️
 
Agree to disagree on this one, you are wrong for a change, but I am done arguing.
 
You have been vocal many times about codes not always based on real life.

So don’t use them as your proof.

You are wrong on this one, but be as stubborn as you want, no biggie for me.
 
I'm I just gonna say that this is highly dependant on circumstances. But the code is to insulate.

Insulation does need to be thought out.
 
If the space is subject to freeze then the correct course of action is to insulate.

That’s not debatable with me.

You either have to insulate or not. You can’t take it on and off across the whole crawlspace depending on ambient temp at the moment.

This is getting ridiculous.....
 

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