Running PEX from floor joists down through top plate

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Don_P

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What would be the best way for me to get my PEX lines from the floor joist cavity down inside this wall? I'm trying to limit any extra fittings that I don't need, so theirs less chance of failure or leaks down the line.

I drilled large holes to use suspension clamps around the pipes running through my joists. So my original plan was to use a 1" PVC 90 elbow to help run the pipe down inside the wall, but it puts the pipe towards the very back of the wall. I'm trying to keep the PEX as close to the front of wall as possible, so the heat from the room helps prevent it from freezing as I need to run it through an exterior wall.

Would I be better off installing a 90 elbow and coming straight down with the PEX? Any better ideas??


 

wwhitney

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How are you going to insulate that rim joist area?

What's going on with the OSB on the upper left of the first picture, is that a region with a dropped ceiling where you could route the PEX into the wall framing by going under that joist that's in the way just in front of the wall top plate?

Cheers, Wayne
 

Don_P

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How are you going to insulate that rim joist area?

What's going on with the OSB on the upper left of the first picture, is that a region with a dropped ceiling where you could route the PEX into the wall framing by going under that joist that's in the way just in front of the wall top plate?

Cheers, Wayne

Wayne, the rim joists were all spray foamed quite a few years back before we started this project, only a couple rim joist bays aren't and it will be done when I get the walls spray foamed. Also, if your referring to the actual joist bay itself, I used mineral wool insulation and stuffed it in the gap, prior to me framing up that wall in the picture. I might see if they can spray it better when they come to do the basement walls.

That OSB in the picture is the bulkhead soffit for my heating supply duct downstairs. I wrapped it in 2x2's and OSB so I can mount my drywall to it when finishing. I also have mineral wool insulation behind the OSB for noise.

I could route the water lines through that soffit opening but they would still need to run through that exterior wall no matter how I do it. I figured running it down through the floor joists gives me a short, direct shot from my lines now to the bathroom area without using more pipe. Unless running the pipes through that soffit is a better idea?
 

wwhitney

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It's a tradeoff.

I think, on balance, that using an elbow in each line so that you can go through the joist using the holes already shown in the picture, but come down into the wall right at the front of the stud cavity, is probably a good choice.

Other solutions will also work, but nothing occurs to me that is clearly significantly better.

Cheers, Wayne
 

IPDQKWID

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Depending how much access you can create above the top plate/behind the rim joist, I've used a couple different 90 degree bends to eliminate elbows, but placement of the pex just behind the wallboard will necessitate mounting the bend apparatus in just the right place. Here are two I've used:
525-162PB.jpg
200490_2.jpg


FWIW, here is one in place for 1/2"
DSCN6227.JPG
 

wwhitney

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Depending how much access you can create above the top plate/behind the rim joist, I've used a couple different 90 degree bends to eliminate elbows
Judging by the photos (new 2x is 1.5" thick, old 2x is probably 2" thick) the bend radius would need to be about 4" (and that if the bend support sticks through the hole in the joist), I think that's tighter than you can get with such bend supports?

Cheers, Wayne
 

IPDQKWID

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Yeah, I agree it would kind of require modifications to the joist in order to keep the pex at the front of the stud cavity.
 

Don_P

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Depending how much access you can create above the top plate/behind the rim joist, I've used a couple different 90 degree bends to eliminate elbows, but placement of the pex just behind the wallboard will necessitate mounting the bend apparatus in just the right place. Here are two I've used:
View attachment 102707 View attachment 102708

FWIW, here is one in place for 1/2"
View attachment 102709

Great idea, but I don't think I have the room for it. My original idea, since I already drilled the 1 3/8" hole for the suspension clamps was too use a PVC conduit 90 elbow and try pulling it through that. It worked great but it pushed the pex too far towards the back of the wall for my liking
 
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