Loop PEX *under* joist instead of through? Reasons it won’t work?

Brian_W

Hi HH Pros,

Your thought? Why wouldn’t this unconventional approach work?….

I’m about to install Uponor Joist Trak. Normally, people drill a hole through the end of joists and snake the PEX tubing through the holes to go from one joist cavity into the other cavity and so on across the heating zone. I understand that.

For many reasons, I want the PEX to loop under the joist when moving from one joist cavity to the next. The PEX goes under instead of through joists. No drilling holes through the joists.

The joist are on 29” centers (project is in Europe, atypical sizes) and 7.5” tall. So, they are wide and short joist cavities.

I can place the Joist Trak and the tubing in a way to avoid crimping tubing when going under the joist. Further, the tubing running under the joists will be covered from view and protected from potential damage

The question: Is there any technical reason I can’t loop under the joist instead of drilling through the joists?

Thank for your insight!

Brian

hot_rod

not uncommon at all to loop under. It does take more tube of course.

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

I did it that way for awhile until I got used to drilling joists. No problems other than it takes a few inches longer to get the pipe to the correct plane to snap into the plate.