Insulation for box in shed - How thick do I need it?

[andrewcollier]

I have a pressure washer kept in my shed that I need to protect from frost. I have 25mm thick silver coated foam insulation boards that I intend to make a box to house it inside the shed. My question is - How thick do I need to make it?

Thanks

 

[Burnerman]

50mm thick should be fine.....but make sure the machine is pumped dry anyway before you store it.
John

 

[TicklyT]

No amount of insulation will keep the machine warm - it will just increase the time it takes to freeze (and the time it takes to thaw once it has frozen).

As Burnerman said, best to drain all the water out of the machine, then there's nothing to freeze.

 

[Burnerman]

No amount of insulation will keep the machine warm - it will just increase the time it takes to freeze (and the time it takes to thaw once it has frozen).

As Burnerman said, best to drain all the water out of the machine, then there's nothing to freeze.

Thats absolutely correct, and something that many people don't know about insulation....it can't possibly provide heat, it only retains what heat (or cold!) there was in the first place.
John

 

[gday2uk]

It might be different up there where you are but I have never had frost 'inside' my shed before

 

[Burnerman]

Aha but you are from the tropical 'sooth'.....I'm at 900' above sea level in the Northumbrian Tyne valley...and the cold is bone cracking here. Wouldn't swap it though!
John

 

[gday2uk]

We had snow here in February and it lasted for two whole days I'll have you know

 

[big-all]

if your shed is going to average around 0 for a complete cycle of 24hrs then i wouldnt worry
and by that i mean it can be minus 6 overnight as long as the daytime temperature is 12 degrees
the stored energy will slowly dissipate

if you use your shed the temperature will seldom drop bellow zero unless the daytime temperature goes below zero for a day or 2
boil 1.5L off water top up the kettle with 0.5L cold water
fill a 2L bottle and leave in your insulated box
replenish every evening untill the average 24hr temp is about 2 above freezing

or leave enough room to install a 11w low energy bulb in the box that comes on at 7 and off at 7 unless its below zero all day then 24 hrs

 

[Burnerman]

We had snow here in February and it lasted for two whole days I'll have you know

Never been to the IOW....chugged past it many times on a Brittany ferry though.
John