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Squeaky and noisy O2 barrier PEX

Kaos
Kaos Member Posts: 188
edited October 18 in THE MAIN WALL

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

EdTheHeaterMan

Comments

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 23,281

    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.

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    DerheatmeisterGGrossEdTheHeaterMan
  • Derheatmeister
    Derheatmeister Member Posts: 1,580

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

  • Kaos
    Kaos Member Posts: 188

    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
    hot_rod Member Posts: 23,281

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

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 3,012

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

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,319

    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!


    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • Kaos
    Kaos Member Posts: 188

    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
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 3,012

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

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 23,281

    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

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream