10-10-2009, 11:58 AM. PEX tubing is approved for direct burial outdoors, a practice most often necessary when running a water supply line to a house. We are on well water/pressure tank and live in the hot south central USA. Plumbing and Piping - Is it better to route pipes through crawlspace or attic? Should PEX Piping Be Insulated? - Home Inspection Insider When I was working in AZ, all the time ( but I dreamed of basements, when working on water lines, in an attic, in PHX, in the summer) If you dont have freezing temp, get a roll of pex, and run a line with no joints. Best Way To Run Water Line In Attic - Furniture Decor Re-plumbing through Attic - PEX vs CPVC. PDF Design Guide - Residential PEX Water Supply Plumbing Systems For a basic project in zip code 47474 with 1 piping run, the cost to Install a Water Line starts at $536 - $664 per piping run. Support straps should be plastic or metal that is designed to work for plastic pipe. 1 / 24. To avoid these potential problems, be sure to follow these four tips when installing PEX pipe. Assuming your lowest ambient temperature that your hot water lines will be exposed to is 50 degrees and your hot water temperature is set to 120 degrees, that's a 70 degree temp change. I plan on running PEX pipes both hot and cold across 16 feet of unheated attic space above a foyer. For a variety of reasons, from pipe damage under a slab to home design constraints, water pipes may need to be run or rerouted through a home's attic. Use as few fittings as possible when running PEX in an attic; while PEX pipe is resistant to bursting in the cold, the fittings are not. December, '02 build F-250 CC 4X4 Lariat 6.0/Torqshift,Toreador Red over Arizona Beige 4X4 FX4 w/ moon roof. At first, I wasn't sure that's what I was hearing but the meter is moving when no water is running anywhere in . I'm pretty sure I've got a leak in a copper pipe underneath the slab. The current galv pipes run in crawlspace. PEX supply lines - keep from freezing Use as few fittings as possible when running PEX in an attic; while PEX pipe is resistant to bursting in the cold, the fittings are not. Running Pex in Walls | Page 2 | DIY Home Improvement Forum PEX is plastic tubing or hose with many beneficial characteristics. While PEX does not ordinarily burst in the cold, the water in the pipes can still freeze. The PEX tubing has some stretch built into it. I have my pex lines running in my attic and we got single digit temps here. How much pex plumbing pipes should cost. Just don't share the same holes with romex with any type of PVC or PEX because of expansion and contraction in those pipes. PEX in slab pros: no lines running in attic or down walls. PEX through the attic. Will it freeze? | GON Forum We suggest adding an extra line for future changes. Where do water pipes run in a house? Water contained in the pipes can nonetheless freeze. PEX, since it can expand, resists freezing more effectively than rigid pipe, but PEX can still burst if water freezes in a line. For a hot water flow to work, you need a hot water safe option (CPVC or copper) connected between the PEX and hot water heater. That's 7" of tubing length change for a 100' run, or 3.5" length change for a 50 foot run. Is insulating cold water pipes in attic in hot weather ... You can then replace your existing attic insulation over the inverted U for more freeze protection. FYI: Gas lines can indeed be run in the attic. I'm doing a whole house renovation. Either one can be adapted at both ends. check the samples. PEX is cross-linked polyethylene. The Pex has a foam insulated cover around it. Re: replacing water pipes in attic; Author: packy (MA) easy there fixitguy. Fletch Merritt Island, FL Posts: 2,523 Moderator. cold water lines may be warmer if attic gets hot (but hopefully not with conditioned attic) more stuff cluttering up the attic. Slab on grade, which I don't see very often. We just started hearing it a day or two ago. And now wondering if it was a good idea to put water lines in an attic that could be vulnerable to damage from rodents chewing through the line. However, if PEX pipe is incorrectly installed, leaks, kinks, and other common challenges can easily occur. Insulate pipes run through an attic to reduce the risk of freezing. Protect your PEX pipe by purchasing it from a manufacturer that offers pre-wrapped pipes. Last edited by a moderator: Feb 5, 2015. jimbo, Nov 2, 2010. You may want to consider running that pipe in PEX as it tends to be very forgiving if it freezes and not split like other pipes. All lines are coming from under the slab in each part of the home where water is needed. In terms of water damage I would rather have a leak in the attic where it can be spotted and repaired than inside a wall where it could grow toxic mold for years. Pre-purchase storage is essential to maintain PEX pipe quality and installation location. There is no simple yes or no answer to this question. When the PEX is run throug the attic does it matter if it is run along the floor or if it is run about 4 feet above the floor along the verticle truss supports. The foyer is 16' long and is off the kitchen, it isn't heated directly but is part of the house; it is usually colder than the rest of the house, mostly due to the cat door and slider the dogs go in and out of. When running pipe from a slab to an attic, use cross-linked polyethylene tubing, or PEX, instead of copper. Additionally, despite being capable of handling hot water, it cannot be directly connected to a water heater. Original copper tubing in/under slab. While PEX does not ordinarily burst in the cold, the water in the pipes can still freeze. While PEX does not ordinarily burst in the cold, the water in the pipes can still freeze. PEX in slab cons: more expensive. Home-run manifold systems use the least hot water and the most pipe. Although PEX is a better insulator than copper, having hotter water come through the pipe faster is a good thing. Should that horizontal run not drain and the water within freeze, PEX can survive freeze/thaw cycles better than copper. take a short piece of copper and a short piece of pex. PEX pipe is resistant to bursting, but the fittings are not. While the supply line should reduce in size from the original fixture to the last one, that is rarely done and can exacerbate the issue above. PEX's purpose, however, is the opposite of PVC — whereas the latter is restricted to drain lines, the former is only used for incoming water lines. BTW - My existing PB pipe is under the slab. Location: San Diego, CA. PEX tubing is approved for direct burial outdoors, a practice most often necessary when running a water supply line to a house.PEX, since it can expand, resists freezing more effectively than rigid pipe, but PEX can still burst if water freezes in a line. However, PEX has only been used for about a decade, and any health risks of using plastic water supply lines are unknown. Category: home and garden home appliances. They are very flexible and less prone to cracking. While PEX does not ordinarily burst in the cold, the water in the pipes can still freeze. Whereas PEX doesn't ordinarily burst in the chilly, the water in the pipes can nonetheless freeze. Grab your pex and see what you can feel. On a slab house we would only lay the drain lines out and then install a pipe chase from the outside of the slab form to where the manifold was to be located. 1. A fridge requires a 1/4" line but I would run either 1/2" soft copper or 3/8" copper tube through the attic. The photo at the top of the page is an example of what not to do: PEX water pipe without insulation in an attic that is also next to an access hatch opening and unprotected. It is very important insulate PEX pipe in an attic, notably in cold-weather areas. However, running a bypass of PEX through your attic may be the simpler, quicker and cheaper answer. You could also transition that run from copper to PEX, which is cross linked polylethylene. Use as few fittings as possible when running PEX in an attic; while PEX pipe is resistant to bursting in the cold, the fittings are not. One story on crawlspace. I have seen plenty of worn wires in my day. No freezing lines at my place. Or that's what the plumber I worked with told me. Run pipes as low as possible in the attic to allow access to heat from below. DESIGN GUIDE Residential PEX Water Supply Plumbing Systems Prepared for Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc (PPI) 105 Decker Court Suite 825 Irving, TX 75062 Should I be concerned? - I'm replumbing my house with PEX. However, running a bypass of PEX through your attic may be the simpler, quicker and cheaper answer. I now have a water leak that could be further under the slab and not reachable. PEX tubing needs to be supported a minimum of every 32 inches when running horizontally. Similarly, can PEX be used underground? Although the flexibility of PEX pipe makes it somewhat resistant to freeze fractures, it is still required to be insulated in an attic. Is it okay to run PEX in the attic? 846. Nov 6, 2008. Long used in radiant heating systems, flexible PEX tubing is perfect for water supply lines because it's easy to run through walls and floors and simple to work with. 4.3/5 (843 Views . Run the PEX tubing: PEX needs to be supported a minimum of every 32 inches when running horizontally. PEX tubing is approved for direct burial outdoors, a practice most often necessary when running a water supply line to a house. Let me explain with a personal experience of a burst rolled copper supply line: Years ago I was headed out the door and heard the sound of water going through the pipe out of the water heater. Cross-linked polyethylene, or PEX, is a plastic water supply line suitable for both buried and above ground applications. (Note the cost of installing vent-free gas logs is often about $200 more than the cost for vented.) Installing a gas line and either vented or vent-free gas logs will cost $500 to $2,500. PEX will expand about 1 inch to 2.5 inches per 100 feet for every 10-degree temperature change. Your hot and cold water supply lines (as well as your PVC drain traps) need to be insulated in unfinished spaces. I run my comp at 165 psi no problem. A large-diameter (3/4 in.) Because there are . Are you able to run water line in attic? Two common ways to run plumbing. Romex is rated for 90* C it can touch, it can take the heat. Click to see full answer. Joined: Aug 31, 2004. Like a thick, strong hose, PEX is a flexible tubing material capable of stretching around bends and turns without pipe fittings. Will water lines freeze in the attic? soak each one in it's own glass of water for 5 or 6 months. I'm now just worried about the water in the lines potentially heating to above scald level on the hot summer days when the water in the line has sat idle for 8 hours. (These supports are critical.) Use as few fittings as possible when running PEX in an attic; while PEX pipe is resistant to bursting in the cold, the fittings are not. Yea you need to insulate the pipes, the foam pipe from any hardware store will work. While PEX does not ordinarily burst in the cold, the water in the pipes can still freeze. #3. PEX pipe is immune to bursting, however the fittings are usually not. Cold water distribution tubing should be insulated to prevent dew point condensation. Plumbing With PEX Tubing. If you use PEX, you can run it through your attic. It is easy to install due to its flexibility. any future repairs will probably require a line in the attic. Embedding PEX in sand protects it from any rocks in the soil. I had used PEX for airlines in my shop. which one would you rather drink out of? The lines were replaced about 7 years ago with PEX and look good. Insulate pipes run through an attic to reduce the risk of freezing. The chase is most commonly used for running new vent stacks. Also, you don't have to run gas lines through the slab. Use as few fittings as attainable when working PEX in an attic; whereas PEX pipe is proof against bursting in the chilly, the . In addition, since PEX is commonly sold in 100-foot coils, the material can be used for longer, continuous runs reducing the number of joints and . As far as leaks go, I was thinking that a leak in If you are using PEX, you can run it through your attic. They also contract with heat, cold, and sometimes even water flow. N. New Hampshire. If running vertically, it should be supported every 4 to 6 feet. And it does not freeze as readily as metal pipe . That's because PEX pipes—basically a type of plastic—are physically different from other common piping materials.