Staple up job questions

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Danger Will Robinson! Danger!

I say this as primarily "just" a homeowner and hardcore DIYer.

True heating DISASTERS often begin this way! Such are reported here with fair frequency! Not at all uncommon to wind up with an underperforming system, then calling in a pro and winding up spending significantly more than if it were professionally done from the beginning!

You UTTERLY MUST conduct a THOROUGH ROOM-BY-ROOM heat loss calculation and VERIFY that your proposed heat transfer method is capable of supplying the necessary heat! "Bare tube" is relatively simple and inexpensive, but often has VERY POOR heat transfer ability!!! Even when suited, bare tube will usually require a very high supply temperature that will not allow you to take best advantage of highly efficient boilers!

If you really want to DIY, study, study, study! An extremely helpful tool the "Rad Pad" is available here at "Books and More". I HIGHLY recommend the Rad Pad! Easy to use and simple to understand provided you FIRST know heat loss and have a decent understanding of radiant floor heat.

You might want to search for a pro who will work with you, but get them involved from the BEGINNING! Yes, they do exist and yes, there is much you'll be able to DIY.

Dan_34

Staple up job questions

Hi,

I am about to embark on a DIY staple up job.

I have read and recieved quite a bit of info and advice but most of it is conflicting.

Should the pex be stapled:

1. Tight to the subfloor or with a small gap? Is this noisy during expansion and contraction if it is tight to the floor.

2. On the side of the joist? (so I can nail down engineered hardwood)

3. Should I locate the supply and return manifolds out in the zones or back in the boiler room?

Thanks for any help.

Dan

dstrasky@hotmail.com

Unknown

Depends on your loads, but most of the time, you want to use plates, not just staple the tubing up naked. Naked suspended/stapled pipe is not a very good installation method for a whole lot of reasons.

We like Thinfin "C" plates.

When nailing wood, use nails too short to penetrate the subfloor.

Generally centrally located zone manifolds will make your life easier and your pipe waste less. Depends though, of course. We usually put them set into stud walls in the backs of closets.