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Posted by Mike on June 11, 2006, 10:31 pm
Eigenvector wrote:
> Since replacing my hot water lines with PEX I've noticed a trend that makes
> me wonder.
>
> When routing PEX lines, is it a good idea to secure them to the wall, as in
> a PEX to threaded pipe connection. I've noticed that the hot water in the
> PEX has a tendency to make it grow and shrink, but not necessarily in a
> straight line. Oftentimes it'll grow and twist in a spiral motion, pulling
> the hose it connects to or bending at a weird angle. I'm concerned because
> when I finally patch the drywall and secure the PEX tubing to the studs that
> the extra restraints will make the PEX grow unnaturally and burst the line,
> or it will rub against one of the channel guides and wear it away.
Another issue you should think about is noise caused by expanding pex
rubbing against other materials. The pex I have installed (Viega)
comes with plastic hooks with ring shanks---easily attached to studs
etc. But, I have had issues with 3/4" pex rubbing the hooks and making
irritating sounds. At some point I pan to re-install the offending
hooks with a dab of silicone in them between the pex and hooks. I
probably should have put silicone on in the first place. Viega calls
for silicone in heat transfer plates used for radiant pex. I was
generous with the silicon in the plates when installing and have not
heard a peep from them.
Fine Homebuilding has an article on pex in the recent issue.
mh
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