To splice or not to splice, that is the question.

Russ_2

Son in law is building a slab for a house. He is putting PEX in the slab. 20 X 36. What is the recommended layout and should PEX be spliced in concrete? Should he have more than one zone and what would be the maximum length of a loop? Thanks in advance. Russ.

Alan(CaliforniaRadiant)Forbes

Questions

The recommended layout is dependent on many things, i.e. heatloss of building, location of exposed walls, etc.

Splices are not allowed in the slab; if your loops exceed the maximum, use a manifold which allows for multiple loops. The manifold is usually located in a wall with an access panel. Maximum loop lengths depend on diameter of tubing; we do not exceed 300' with ½" PEX, 200' max. with 3/8" PEX.

Zoning depends on the use of the rooms; usually sleeping areas are zoned separately from living areas which are zoned separately from guest areas. You also don't want different floor coverings in the same zone. The tiled bathroom doesn't want to be in the same zone as the carpeted bedroom. Orientation to the sun can also effect zoning; you don't want a south facing room on the same zone as a north facing room.

All the best,

Alan

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[Deleted User]

Ya mean...

just because the tube comes in 1000 foot coils, it's not all supposed to go in as one piece?

Uhoh... Why don't they put the installation instruction on the box?

ME

Alan(CaliforniaRadiant)Forbes

Can't you

take yourself seriously sometimes ¿°½¾¼?

Sheesh....................:>)

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Unknown

A doctor repremanded me for not including the piping layout

instructions in the box with the baseboard.

I had the hardest time not telling him that the same thing happened when I bought a scalpel for doing home surgery......

It's like a mixing bowl.....If you don't know how to use one, you don't need one. Hire a cook....

[Deleted User]

No one else takes me seriously...

Why should I??? :-)

ME

Jerry Boulanger

Sometimes you have to splice

in concrete because the tubing gets punctured and must be repaired. The best fitting I have seen for this is the Rehau Everloc. Whatever you use, wrap the entire splice well with electrical tape to protect it from the concrete.

kevin

you mean after...

the slab is poured...if I had a cut /punture before the slab is poured I would replace the whole loop....its not worth taking chances...kpc

Richard Miller_2

not electrical tape...

it may have chlorine in it. use pipe wrap tape.

Steve Eayrs

Would only recommend using splices that are

the approved one for the type and brand of tube youa re using. Don't use Rehau splices when you have wirsbo tubing. Use wirsbo splices, which work great too.