Insulating pipe question.

[savvydog]

I bought a cabin at the 7800ft elevation at Lake Tahoe that has had a history of broken copper pipe due to freezing. I replaced all the exposed crawl space pipe with PEX.
How much insulation might I need around the pipe to reasonably insure against freezing?
What material is best?

I had an idea to run the H&C pipes through some type of conduit like flex dryer vent and use it as a matrix while filling the interior space with expanding foam.
Good or bad idea?

Any other suggestions?
Thanks.
Cheers!!

 

[havasu]

That expanding foam would make one hell of a mess if one of your pipes leaked. As far as a good insulation, I'm from the flatlands where the only cold comes from a refrigerator, so I will sit back and hopefully learn a thing or two as this thread gets answered.

 

[savvydog]

Perhaps I don't fully understand.
Are you referring to the uncured foam making a mess if the duct fails and tears or are you referring to water coming from the pipe?
If water, then why would that cause any more mess than without the foam?
All serious questions.

Cheers!!

 

[journeyman]

i think if it was me i would use rubatex and then try to insulate the crawlspace with the spray type insulation. try to seal the walls and vents to try to keep the heat under the house. you might even be able to put some sort of heater under house that works off a thermostat. a plumbing company in your region will most likely have the best advise