My hot water pipes at places are laying right against the wood ceiling joists in my basement? I used the foam tube insulation and taped them. Can this cause a fire from too much heat?
2007-08-18 03:32:09 · 9 answers · asked by bucky 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
No, the hot water pipes don't produce that much heat. All you have done is make it less prone to freezing & the pipes will lose less heat on their way to your faucets.
2007-08-18 03:36:24 · answer #1 · answered by Mountain Cat 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so -- the foam should provide the insulation barrier you need -- I'm just wondering how you managed to jam the insulation in between the pipe and the joist if they were up against each other?Another solution would have been to simply slip some aluminum tape (it's like flashing) in between with the sticky side of the tape on the wood -- that way the pipe would be against the aluminum to make a heat barrier. Still, I can't see where a hot water pipe would ever get hot enough against the wood to cause a fire -- typical hot water that runs in residential buildings is simply not hot enough to cause a fire...
2007-08-18 03:39:46 · answer #2 · answered by felixthecat 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. You have to consider that the water within the pipes is possibly the only substance that cannot burn. Everything else does. It just has to reach the temperature at which it ignites. This is called 'flash point'. I don't know the flash point of your insulation but I do know water boils at 212 degrees. Your hot water heater probably has a maximum temperature limit control somewhere around 150 degrees..I would guess your insulation has a flash point closer to 1000 degrees. I'm sure a quick search can find you the actual temperature. In my opinion, you needn't worry about your insulation coming into contact with your ceiling joists and causing a fire. Won't happen. Relax.
2007-08-18 03:52:19 · answer #3 · answered by uvmyattn 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The water in your pipes is never going to be hot enough to start a fire. Wood won't ignite until over 450 deg. F. Your water should not be over about 130.
As for the idea that a piece of aluminum would work as a heat barrier, aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat. An air gap is much better. Just know stuff? Not much obviously.
2007-08-18 03:50:24 · answer #4 · answered by Charles C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Seeing most domestic hot water temps are from 120 to 140 degrees temperature I cant see where that could support combustion. I don't know about the tubes you used and any chemical process that they may cause if they reach certain temperatures standard insulating material wont do that.so I think you're fine.
2007-08-18 05:41:13 · answer #5 · answered by petethen2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO, the water pipe cant possibly be over the boiling point of water or the safety valve would let go and the boiling point of water is far far below the ingniton point of wood or any other combustible. Relax, you are safe.
2007-08-18 05:57:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You would have to have some awfully hot water to set a fire. Steam lines don't ignite wood so doubtful your hot water lines would.
2007-08-18 03:37:55 · answer #7 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no,only electrics will start a fire not hot water pipes
2007-08-18 03:35:19 · answer #8 · answered by dumplingmuffin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not likely - your geyer should be set to a maximum of around 65 Centigrade.
2007-08-18 08:29:45 · answer #9 · answered by Rooikat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋