Cover window to stop pipes freezing?


  #1  
Old 11-02-17, 07:10 PM
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Cover window to stop pipes freezing?

This is a basement in a old house.
the window seems to be open to the outside with very cold freezing weather in the winter. The pipes have not frozen in the past but I'm not sure how. Cold and hot water pipes run in this area plus plumbing.
What's the best solution for closing off the hole without glass?
this is all in the crawl space area under the house but the window is next to a deeper section of it


 
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Old 11-02-17, 08:20 PM
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If it were me I would cut a piece of sheet rock to fit the opening ( Just for looks from the outside) And then stuff the window opening with insulation....
 
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Old 11-02-17, 08:26 PM
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I would probably just cut some Styrofoam to fit tightly into the space.
 
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Old 11-02-17, 10:44 PM
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Fill the opening with styrofoam sheets and caulk the edges.
 
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Old 11-03-17, 03:55 AM
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may not be important but for security I would use plywood then insulate with foam and caulk.
 
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Old 11-03-17, 04:03 AM
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I think the window might be for ventilation under the house but I am not sure.
Doesn't the crawl space need air movement?
 
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Old 11-03-17, 04:48 AM
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Well let's think about that. If you have uninsulated water pipes, do you want / need a lot of air movement when it's -25C outside? Once the weather has warmed up, you can remove your insulation. (Which is why i would just tightly fit styrofoam.... and not caulk anything shut).
 
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Old 11-03-17, 04:48 AM
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Crawlspaces are normally vented, usually by foundation vents placed every so often in the foundation. There are also those that don't believe in ventilation and instead have the foundation completely sealed off [including vapor barrier on ground/walls] and use either the HVAC system or dehumidifier to remove any moisture. Windows are not normally part of a crawlspace's ventilation.
 
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Old 11-03-17, 06:55 AM
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The foundation only has the possibility for vents at front and back. There are other units on either side.
there's no vent at back as far as I can see.
Or do you mean floor vents in the ground floor units?
 
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Old 11-03-17, 02:25 PM
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When the crawlspace isn't vented it should be treated more/less like a living space - sealed well and a mechanical means to control the humidity.
 
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Old 11-03-17, 06:15 PM
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It's pretty dry here in the winter and pretty humid in the summer.
in winter, just leave the humidity as is?
 
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Old 11-03-17, 08:46 PM
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IMO all crawl spaces should be sealed.................
 
 

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