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How to Insulate Behind Shower Walls
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No one wants to lean against a startlingly cold wall while enjoying a steamy shower. If the shower sits on an uninsulated exterior wall, however, that’s exactly what can happen. Shower units typically attach directly to the wall framing, so there is no drywall layer between the shower unit and the stud cavities. The method of insulation you choose depends on the stage of construction and whether you’re tackling the job yourself or hiring a pro.
New Construction
In the best-case scenario, you can insulate the wall behind the shower during initial construction, at the same time you insulate the rest of the exterior walls. During this phase, the stud spaces are open to the interior of the house, and it’s simple to cut and fit batt insulation between the studs. After insulating the walls, attach the shower unit before installing drywall on the adjacent walls. Drywall laps the shower unit flange, so it goes on last.
Existing Shower
Years ago, people weren’t as energy conscious as they are today, and the cost to heat and cool was much lower. In an older home, there’s a good chance that no one insulated the exterior wall before installing the shower. There are two ways to fix this problem. Handy homeowners can rent an insulation blower and drill holes in the wall above the shower to blow in fiberglass or cellulose insulation. One hole per stud space is necessary.
Alternately, a foam insulation contractor can drill holes from outside and inject foam insulation into the cavities. This isn’t a do-it-yourself fix because the foam goes in as a liquid and rapidly expands to fill the cavities. Without training, it’s easy to inject too much foam, which can distort a fiberglass shower wall or crack a tile shower.
Remodeling
If you’re adding a shower during remodeling, you can insulate the stud spaces just as you would during new construction. After removing the old wallboard or drywall, install fiberglass batt insulation between each stud before setting the shower unit.
Insulating Shower Plumbing
It’s almost always a bad idea to run water supply lines in an exterior wall, but in rare cases, usually for aesthetic reasons, it might be necessary. If it’s an open shower or if the sidewalls are glass, the water supply might run in a back exterior wall. Due to outdoor temperature fluctuations, condensation can form on the water lines and lead to moisture damage in the stud spaces. To permanently correct the problem, you need access to the stud spaces. Install rubber insulation foam around each supply line to prevent condensation, and then fit insulation batts between the supply lines and the exterior wall. The supply lines should be as close to the shower, and as far away from the exterior wall, as possible.