Squeaky and noisy O2 barrier PEX

Kaos

I was in a recent renovation and noticed they used squeaky pex for the space heat running through joist. Why they heck is this stuff even still sold and used here? Of course it is not an issue if embedded in concrete but even there, sooner or later some piping will go through wood in a North American house.

The worst part is manufacturers will not tell you if their stuff is noisy, you have to dig through data sheets or actually grab a piece to find out.

So far, my non-squeaky pex choices are:

-Uponor hePex

-Watts RadiantPert

hot_rod

I think it is the EVOH barrier that causes the noise. Some brands put another layer over the barrier.

It was sad to see FostaPex discontinue. That aluminum and PE outer layer made for a nice quiet tube with less expansion issues.

Derheatmeister

How is the "Squeaky Tubing" to this renovation installed and controlled ?

Kaos

I think it will take a very diligent installer to get all the noise out of the bare EVOH tube. I simply don't see it happening. In this case, no effort was made, I hope they at least set up a decent reset curve so the temperature won't change too much.

I only bought squeaky pex once many moons ago. Once I knew that alternative existed, I never touch that stuff again. De-squeaking is not worth the effort. I would assume anybody that had to go through and de-squeak an install would also feel the same way.

Which brings me back to my original question/rant. Why the heck is this stuff still around?

hot_rod

A coil of it squeaks just riding in the back of the van:)

Big Ed_4

The problem is in the installation … Every pipe will expand with temperature .. Just saying …

EdTheHeaterMan

This is the first time I have heard of squeaky and quiet PEX.

But I experienced it in the 1990s. We added a euro panel radiator to an addition on my father's shore home. My brother drilled the holes in the joists, and they didn't line up perfectly. So the PEX snaked through the joists. not a straight line, but a little curvy.  When the drywall was finished and the zone was commissioned, there was a very noticeable expansion noise on that radiator.

We knew enough to use Oxygen Barrier tubing, but not about noisy tubing.

No worries now, we knocked that house down and built a duplex on that site.

I took the Buderus Boiler and put it in my house, it is still there today!

Kaos

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1815036#Comment_1815036

I would challenge anybody to install it in a way that it makes zero noise. This stuff is so bad that if you use a talon to hold it in place and one side touches wood framing it will tick every time heat cycles.

The multi layer coated stuff is pretty much noise free with a reasonable install.

Big Ed_4

The key is not letting heating pipes expand against wood . Pex does need extra attention , clamps and slides …..

hot_rod

insulate any of it that can contact wood or itself

When driven into extruded transfer plates it is held tightly and doesn’t squeak. Or encased in concrete