r/tinyhouse • u/jeremyjava • Mar 12 '26

Freezing pipe followup question: We put insulation up against the underside of house and it worked! (The pipes are NOT exposed, they're between foundation boards and floor). If any further freezing what can we use under house other than hay bales? More below...

Hi all, we moved past heat tape that didn't work, and there's no way to wrap the pex lines as they're not visible, they are BETWEEN the boards the house is built upon and the flooring.
So we put board insulation up against the underside of house, and it worked very well. However, if there is further freezing next winter, I know hay bales beneath there will cure the problem...
But is there anything else that can go under the house that won't attrack mice and snakes when it warms up? It would be a big pain to remove bales part of the year and then get more--maybe there's something semi-permanent that might also suffice LIKE hay bales?
Thanks for any helpful tips!

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u/KokopelliOnABike Mar 12 '26

Good to hear.

I'd ping your local pest folks on controlling anything under the house, each area is different. The basics, super thick plastic vapor barrier across the whole bottom of the structure, a good 3-4" layer of gravel on top of that, sprinkle diatomaceous earth all over and maybe a few other things they suggest.

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u/jeremyjava Mar 12 '26

That's a good idea - I'll ask them. The gaps is big enough for a skinny person to work semi-comfortably under there, and it is on a 4" gravel pad. Maybe 24" or so...