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View Full Version : Should I insulate my pipes in my attic living in the Hot desert


shella51
Aug 25, 2011, 09:09 AM
Should I insulate my pipes in my attic I live in Lake Havasu City Az. I is very hot in the summer. I do not have cold water in the summer

ballengerb1
Aug 25, 2011, 09:50 AM
You appear to never freeze with average lows aound 40 so I would not bother. However please tell us if both hot and "cold" lines run in the attic.

Milo Dolezal
Aug 25, 2011, 09:52 AM
Yes, you should insulate both Hot and Cold water pipes. We in So.California routinely insulate cold water pipes. Use the best insulation with the highest R-value. Milo

speedball1
Aug 25, 2011, 09:59 AM
I is very hot in the summer. I do not have cold water in the summer And I live in Sarasora Florida and have the same problem. The only time I get cold water is in the winter. Since your attic, like mine becomes a furnace in the summer time, The water, until you make a draw, just sets up there soaking in the heat.
If the water's cold entering the house you can try to insulate but don't get your hopes up.
If it really bugs you I guess you rig up a chill box along with a well insulated 40 gallon tank to supply your house.
But for the most part you guys out in Arizona are just do what we do in Florida and that's live with it!! Cheers, Tom

ballengerb1
Aug 25, 2011, 10:01 AM
I agree with Tom. Unless you get sweating pipes I see no value in insulation, you are getting hot water almost free. Cold will be a bite but I'd still like to know the temp of incoming water.

searower
Dec 15, 2014, 07:46 PM
In the south or south east(Florida) Pex cold water piping/tubing, in the attic(not covered with insulation or insulated tubing) during hot climates absorbs radiant heat from up to 130 degrees, initially producing very hot water from hot and cold pipes/tubing, until the attic pipes can be flushed. Pex piping/tubing covered with attic insulation and/or covered with tubing insulation should reduce, if not, eliminate the excessive hot, cold water tubing and reduce the excessively hot, hot water tubing. Piping/tubing insulation without attic insulation will not usually help. I'm going to try the denser rubber tubing insulation used for copper pipes, because the foam tubing insulation does not work by itself. Followed with attic blown insulation. I also, believe that an attic should have adequate ventilation to reduce overall heat, however I do not think this will do anything by it self. I'm astonished that there is so little information addressing this topic. Hope, this helps.

searower
Dec 15, 2014, 07:52 PM
Not meaning to disregard valid input by others, just trying resolve my same issues. I am not a professional, just a DIY'er. Have a great day everyone.

ballengerb1
Dec 15, 2014, 08:06 PM
This post is 3 years old. We never really reached our conclusions since the poster stopped writing to us. The poster asked one question but never came back to answer any of our questions. Insulation on water pipes only delays the effects of the heat in the attic. You could insulate a cold water pipe all you want but sitting all day while you are at work that water will still be hotter than blazes when you come home. If a person was home all day and used water intermittently that was be a different story.