Hey everyone! I'm building an in-law apartment above my garage in Maine, and with the freezing winters here, I really need to ensure the water lines don't freeze. I'm considering adding a soffit that would allow heat to circulate and keep the pipes warm in the unheated section of the garage. What do you all think is the best practice for preventing the pipes from freezing? I'm thinking about venting from the heated living space into the area below the insulation since heat tends to rise. I've received various suggestions from contractors, including some that recommend insulating the bottom of the pipes with a channel for air circulation, though the floorboards might complicate that. There are also options like using R-19 insulation with high-density foam around the pipes. I want to get this right, so I'm open to redoing any part if necessary. Thanks for any advice!
1 Answer
It sounds like the easiest and most effective approach is to insulate your garage and keep it heated—just maintaining around 50°F should be enough to protect those pipes from freezing. It's a straightforward fix that can save you a lot of trouble when winter hits!